Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK.
Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
Nat Commun. 2020 Jun 10;11(1):2919. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-16695-7.
Replication and transcription of genomic DNA requires partial disassembly of nucleosomes to allow progression of polymerases. This presents both an opportunity to remodel the underlying chromatin and a danger of losing epigenetic information. Centromeric transcription is required for stable incorporation of the centromere-specific histone dCENP-A in M/G1 phase, which depends on the eviction of previously deposited H3/H3.3-placeholder nucleosomes. Here we demonstrate that the histone chaperone and transcription elongation factor Spt6 spatially and temporarily coincides with centromeric transcription and prevents the loss of old CENP-A nucleosomes in both Drosophila and human cells. Spt6 binds directly to dCENP-A and dCENP-A mutants carrying phosphomimetic residues alleviate this association. Retention of phosphomimetic dCENP-A mutants is reduced relative to wildtype, while non-phosphorylatable dCENP-A retention is increased and accumulates at the centromere. We conclude that Spt6 acts as a conserved CENP-A maintenance factor that ensures long-term stability of epigenetic centromere identity during transcription-mediated chromatin remodeling.
基因组 DNA 的复制和转录需要部分拆开核小体,以允许聚合酶前进。这既提供了重塑基础染色质的机会,也带来了丢失表观遗传信息的风险。着丝粒转录是在 M/G1 期稳定掺入着丝粒特异性组蛋白 dCENP-A 所必需的,这依赖于先前沉积的 H3/H3.3-占位核小体的驱逐。在这里,我们证明了组蛋白伴侣和转录延伸因子 Spt6 在空间和时间上与着丝粒转录一致,并防止在果蝇和人类细胞中丢失旧的 CENP-A 核小体。Spt6 直接结合 dCENP-A,并且携带磷酸模拟残基的 dCENP-A 突变体减轻了这种结合。与野生型相比,磷酸模拟 dCENP-A 突变体的保留减少,而不可磷酸化的 dCENP-A 保留增加,并在着丝粒处积累。我们得出结论,Spt6 作为一种保守的 CENP-A 维持因子,确保了在转录介导的染色质重塑过程中,表观遗传着丝粒身份的长期稳定性。