Histones, histone chaperones and nucleosome assembly

Abstract

Chromatin structure governs a number of cellular processes including DNA replication, transcription, and DNA repair. During DNA replication, chromatin structure including the basic repeating unit of chromatin, the nucleosome, is temporarily disrupted, and then reformed immediately after the passage of the replication fork. This coordinated process of nucleosome assembly during DNA replication is termed replication-coupled nucleosome assembly. Disruption of this process can lead to genome instability, a hallmark of cancer cells. Therefore, addressing how replication-coupled nucleosome assembly is regulated has been of great interest. Here, we review the current status of this growing field of interest, highlighting recent advances in understanding the regulation of this important process by the dynamic interplay of histone chaperones and histone modifications.

The Ddc1-Mec3-Rad17 Sliding Clamp Regulates Histone-Histone Chaperone Interactions and DNA Replication-coupled Nucleosome Assembly in Budding Yeast

“…Novel protein functions may be revealed through analysis of genetic and physical interactions that occur under certain conditions, including DNA damage (22, 28, 34 -36). Nucleosome assembly and disassembly, mediated by histone chaperone proteins, is important for regulating chromatin structure during DNA replication, transcription, and DNA repair as well as maintaining genome integrity (2,37). Rtt106 and CAF-1 are histone H3-H4 chaperones that deposit newly synthesized histones onto DNA during S phase (15,38,39).…”

Linker for Activation of T-cell Family Member2 (LAT2) a Lipid Raft Adaptor Protein for AKT Signaling, Is an Early Mediator of Alkylphospholipid Anti-leukemic Activity

“…The selectivity of the method is demonstrated in Fig. 2B by the low level of cross-contamination in blots prepared with antibodies to LYN, a specific marker of lipid rafts (33), to ERGIC-53, a marker of endoplasmic reticulum Golgi intermediate compartment (34), and to the nuclear marker histone H4 (35).…”

Histone H3 Lysine 4 Methylation Marks Postreplicative Human Cytomegalovirus Chromatin

“…In fact, several core histone acetylation and methylation marks are known to be present specifically during cellular DNA replication (e.g., H4K5/K12ac and H4K20me). However, the known replication-associated histone marks do not include H3K4me2, and to our knowledge, there is no evidence that free or newly deposited H3 generally carries this modification (7,13). Thus, we currently favor the possibility that H3 becomes K4me2 modified by a process that occurs subsequent to histone deposition and is specifically linked to viral, but not cellular, DNA replication.…”