How Protein Binding Sensitizes the Nucleosome to Histone H3K56 Acetylation. 2019

Jaehyoun Lee, and Tae-Hee Lee
Department of Chemistry , the Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States.

The nucleosome, the fundamental gene-packing unit comprising an octameric histone protein core wrapped with DNA, has a flexible structure that enables dynamic gene regulation mechanisms. Histone lysine acetylation at H3K56 removes a positive charge from the histone core where it interacts with the termini of the nucleosomal DNA and acts as a critical gene regulatory signal that is implicated in transcription initiation and elongation. The predominant proposal for the biophysical role of H3K56 acetylation (H3K56ac) is that weakened electrostatic interaction between DNA termini and the histone core results in facilitated opening and subsequent disassembly of the nucleosome. However, this effect alone is too weak to account for the strong coupling between H3K56ac and its regulatory outcomes. Here we utilized a semisynthetically modified nucleosome with H3K56ac in order to address this discrepancy. Based on the results, we propose an innovative mechanism by which the charge neutralization effect of H3K56ac is significantly amplified via protein binding. We employed three-color single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) to monitor the opening rate of nucleosomal DNA termini induced by binding of histone chaperone Nap1. We observed an elevated opening rate upon H3K56ac by 5.9-fold, which is far larger than the 1.5-fold previously reported for the spontaneous opening dynamics in the absence of Nap1. Our proposed mechanism successfully reconciles this discrepancy because DNA opening for Nap1 binding must be larger than the average spontaneous opening. This is a novel mechanism that can explain how a small biophysical effect of histone acetylation results in a significant change in protein binding rate.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008239 Lysine An essential amino acid. It is often added to animal feed. Enisyl,L-Lysine,Lysine Acetate,Lysine Hydrochloride,Acetate, Lysine,L Lysine
D008958 Models, Molecular Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures. Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D009707 Nucleosomes The repeating structural units of chromatin, each consisting of approximately 200 base pairs of DNA wound around a protein core. This core is composed of the histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. Dinucleosomes,Polynucleosomes,Dinucleosome,Nucleosome,Polynucleosome
D011485 Protein Binding The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments. Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D011487 Protein Conformation The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain). Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D006657 Histones Small chromosomal proteins (approx 12-20 kD) possessing an open, unfolded structure and attached to the DNA in cell nuclei by ionic linkages. Classification into the various types (designated histone I, histone II, etc.) is based on the relative amounts of arginine and lysine in each. Histone,Histone H1,Histone H1(s),Histone H2a,Histone H2b,Histone H3,Histone H3.3,Histone H4,Histone H5,Histone H7
D000072760 Single Molecule Imaging High resolution imaging techniques that allow visualization of individual molecules of proteins, lipids, or nucleic acids within cells or tissues. Single Molecule Analysis,Single Molecule Tracking,Single Particle Analysis,Single Particle Imaging,Single Particle Microscopy,Single Particle Spectroscopy,Single Particle Tracking,Single Molecule Microscopy,Single Molecule Spectroscopy,Analyses, Single Particle,Analysis, Single Molecule,Analysis, Single Particle,Imaging, Single Molecule,Imaging, Single Particle,Microscopies, Single Particle,Microscopy, Single Molecule,Microscopy, Single Particle,Particle Tracking, Single,Single Molecule Analyses,Single Particle Analyses,Single Particle Microscopies,Single Particle Spectroscopies,Single Particle Trackings,Spectroscopy, Single Molecule,Spectroscopy, Single Particle,Tracking, Single Molecule,Tracking, Single Particle
D000107 Acetylation Formation of an acetyl derivative. (Stedman, 25th ed) Acetylations
D013816 Thermodynamics A rigorously mathematical analysis of energy relationships (heat, work, temperature, and equilibrium). It describes systems whose states are determined by thermal parameters, such as temperature, in addition to mechanical and electromagnetic parameters. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 12th ed) Thermodynamic
D056488 Histone Chaperones Proteins involved in the assembly and disassembly of HISTONES into NUCLEOSOMES. Histone Chaperone,Chaperone, Histone,Chaperones, Histone

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