scholarly journals Remodeling sperm chromatin in Xenopus laevis egg extracts: the role of core histone phosphorylation and linker histone B4 in chromatin assembly.

1994 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Dimitrov ◽  
M C Dasso ◽  
A P Wolffe
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Sperm Nucleus ◽  
Linker Histone ◽  
Core Histone ◽  
Sperm Chromatin ◽  
Histone Phosphorylation ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Core Histones ◽  
Histone Octamers

We find that the remodeling of the condensed Xenopus laevis sperm nucleus into the paternal pronucleus in egg extracts is associated with phosphorylation of the core histones H2A, H2A.X and H4, and uptake of a linker histone B4 and a HMG 2 protein. Histone B4 is required for the assembly of chromatosome structures in the pronucleus. However neither B4 nor core histone phosphorylation are required for the assembly of spaced nucleosomal arrays. We suggest that the spacing of nucleosomal arrays is determined by interaction between adjacent histone octamers under physiological assembly conditions.

scholarly journals Histone H1 is essential for mitotic chromosome architecture and segregation in Xenopus laevis egg extracts

2005 ◽  
Vol 169 (6) ◽  
pp. 859-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Maresca ◽  
Benjamin S. Freedman ◽  
Rebecca Heald
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Metaphase Plate ◽  
Histone H1 ◽  
Linker Histone ◽  
Chromosome Architecture ◽  
Linker Histone H1 ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Chromatin Proteins ◽  
And Function

During cell division, condensation and resolution of chromosome arms and the assembly of a functional kinetochore at the centromere of each sister chromatid are essential steps for accurate segregation of the genome by the mitotic spindle, yet the contribution of individual chromatin proteins to these processes is poorly understood. We have investigated the role of embryonic linker histone H1 during mitosis in Xenopus laevis egg extracts. Immunodepletion of histone H1 caused the assembly of aberrant elongated chromosomes that extended off the metaphase plate and outside the perimeter of the spindle. Although functional kinetochores assembled, aligned, and exhibited poleward movement, long and tangled chromosome arms could not be segregated in anaphase. Histone H1 depletion did not significantly affect the recruitment of known structural or functional chromosomal components such as condensins or chromokinesins, suggesting that the loss of H1 affects chromosome architecture directly. Thus, our results indicate that linker histone H1 plays an important role in the structure and function of vertebrate chromosomes in mitosis.

scholarly journals Site-specific ubiquitylation acts as a regulator of linker histone H1

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Höllmüller ◽  
Simon Geigges ◽  
Marie L. Niedermeier ◽  
Kai-Michael Kammer ◽  
Simon M. Kienle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Histone H1 ◽  
Linker Histone ◽  
Active Chromatin ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Linker Histone H1 ◽  
Fundamental Process ◽  
Core Histones ◽  
Wide Scale

AbstractDecoding the role of histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs) is key to understand the fundamental process of epigenetic regulation. This is well studied for PTMs of core histones but not for linker histone H1 in general and its ubiquitylation in particular due to a lack of proper tools. Here, we report on the chemical synthesis of site-specifically mono-ubiquitylated H1.2 and identify its ubiquitin-dependent interactome on a proteome-wide scale. We show that site-specific ubiquitylation of H1 at position K64 modulates interactions with deubiquitylating enzymes and the deacetylase SIRT1. Moreover, it affects H1-dependent chromatosome assembly and phase separation resulting in a more open chromatosome conformation generally associated with a transcriptionally active chromatin state. In summary, we propose that site-specific ubiquitylation plays a general regulatory role for linker histone H1.

Extracts from eggs and oocytes of Xenopus laevis differ in their capacities for nuclear assembly and DNA replication

1990 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-184
Author(s):  
L.S. Cox ◽  
G.H. Leno
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
High Speed ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Soluble Fraction ◽  
Sperm Chromatin ◽  
Nuclear Assembly ◽  
Egg Extract ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Sperm Nuclei

We describe a cell-free extract derived from the oocytes of Xenopus laevis. The oocyte extract is capable of decondensing sperm chromatin and of replicating single-stranded DNA in a semiconservative, aphidicolin-sensitive manner. In addition, oocyte extract supports the elongation phase of DNA synthesis in nuclei that have been preinitiated for replication. All of these properties are shared by previously described egg extracts. However, oocyte extracts differ from egg extracts in two important ways. First, they cannot support nuclear assembly, as visualised by phase-contrast, fluorescence and electron microscopy. Second, they do not initiate replication on chromatin or nuclei de novo. Crude low-speed supernatants can be partially fractionated into soluble and vesicular components by high-speed centrifugation. Such fractions from eggs can be functionally reconstituted, but the oocyte soluble fraction does not acquire the ability to assemble nuclei, or replicate them, even when supplemented with the egg vesicular fraction. Similarly, oocyte vesicles cannot substitute for egg vesicles on reconstitution with the egg soluble fraction. When the requirement for nuclear assembly is bypassed by using preformed, quiescent nuclei, replication is observed in egg but not oocyte extracts. However, the oocyte extract is not inhibitory for initiation of replication, as it does not prevent replication of sperm nuclei when mixed with egg extract. We suggest that the different capabilities of egg and oocyte extracts could provide the basis of an assay system for identifying factors involved in the initiation of DNA replication.

Anucleate Caenorhabditis elegans sperm can crawl, fertilize oocytes and direct anterior-posterior polarization of the 1-cell embryo

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.L. Sadler ◽  
D.C. Shakes
Keyword(s):  
Cellular Transformation ◽  
Sperm Nucleus ◽  
Sperm Chromatin ◽  
Egg Activation ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Oocyte Meiosis ◽  
Cell Embryo ◽  
First Time ◽  
Anterior Posterior

It has long been appreciated that spermiogenesis, the cellular transformation of sessile spermatids into motile spermatozoa, occurs in the absence of new DNA transcription. However, few studies have addressed whether the physical presence of a sperm nucleus is required either during spermiogenesis or for subsequent sperm functions during egg activation and early zygotic development. To determine the role of the sperm nucleus in these processes, we analyzed two C. elegans mutants whose spermatids lack DNA. Here we show that these anucleate sperm not only differentiate into mature functional spermatozoa, but they also crawl toward and fertilize oocytes. Furthermore, we show that these anucleate sperm induce both normal egg activation and anterior-posterior polarity in the 1-cell C. elegans embryo. The latter finding demonstrates for the first time that although the anterior-posterior embryonic axis in C. elegans is specified by sperm, the sperm pronucleus itself is not required. Also unaffected is the completion of oocyte meiosis, formation of an impermeable eggshell, migration of the oocyte pronucleus, and the separation and expansion of the sperm-contributed centrosomes. Our investigation of these mutants confirms that, in C. elegans, neither the sperm chromatin mass nor a sperm pronucleus is required for spermiogenesis, proper egg activation, or the induction of anterior-posterior polarity.

scholarly journals Nuclear proteins of quiescent Xenopus laevis cells inhibit DNA replication in intact and permeabilized nuclei.

1996 ◽  
Vol 133 (5) ◽  
pp. 955-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Fang ◽  
R M Benbow
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Sperm Chromatin ◽  
Quiescent State ◽  
Cell Nuclei ◽  
A6 Cells ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Liver Nuclei

Quiescent cells from adult vertebrate liver and contact-inhibited or serum-deprived tissue cultures are active metabolically but do not carry out nuclear DNA replication and cell division. Replication of intact nuclei isolated from either quiescent Xenopus liver or cultured Xenopus A6 cells in quiescence was barely detectable in interphase extracts of Xenopus laevis eggs, although Xenopus sperm chromatin was replicated with approximately 100% efficiency in the same extracts. Permeabilization of nuclei from quiescent Xenopus liver or cultured Xenopus epithelial A6 cells did not facilitate efficient replication in egg extracts. Moreover, replication of Xenopus sperm chromatin in egg extracts was strongly inhibited by a soluble extract of isolated Xenopus liver nuclei; in contrast, complementary-strand synthesis on single-stranded DNA templates in egg extracts was not affected. Inhibition was specific to endogenous molecules localized preferentially in quiescent as opposed to proliferating cell nuclei, and was not due to suppression of cdk2 kinase activity. Extracts of Xenopus liver nuclei also inhibited growth of sperm nuclei formed in egg extracts. However, the rate and extent of decondensation of sperm chromatin in egg extracts were not affected. The formation of prereplication centers detected by anti-RP-A antibody was not affected by extracts of liver nuclei, but formation of active replication foci was blocked by the same extracts. Inhibition of DNA replication was alleviated when liver nuclear extracts were added to metaphase egg extracts before or immediately after Ca++ ion-induced transition to interphase. A plausible interpretation of our data is that endogenous inhibitors of DNA replication play an important role in establishing and maintaining a quiescent state in Xenopus cells, both in vivo and in cultured cells, perhaps by negatively regulating positive modulators of the replication machinery.

Chromatin structures condensed by linker histones

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing-Rui Zhou ◽  
Yawen Bai
Keyword(s):  
Structural Unit ◽  
Linker Histone ◽  
Histone H2a ◽  
Linker Histones ◽  
The Core ◽  
High Order Chromatin Structure ◽  
Core Histones ◽  
Order Structures ◽  
Made In

Abstract In eukaryotic cells, genomic DNA exists in the form of chromatin through association with histone proteins, which consist of four core histone (H2A, H2B, H3, and H4) families and one linker histone (H1) family. The core histones bind to DNA to form the nucleosome, the recurring structural unit of chromatin. The linker histone binds to the nucleosome to form the next structural unit of chromatin, the chromatosome, which occurs dominantly in metazoans. Linker histones also play an essential role in condensing chromatin to form higher order structures. Unlike the core histones in the formation of the nucleosome, the role of linker histone in the formation of the chromatosome and high-order chromatin structure is not well understood. Nevertheless, exciting progress in the structural studies of chromatosomes and nucleosome arrays condensed by linker histones has been made in the last several years. In this mini-review, we discuss these recent experimental results and provide some perspectives for future studies.

scholarly journals Aurora A phosphorylation of TACC3/maskin is required for centrosome-dependent microtubule assembly in mitosis

2005 ◽  
Vol 170 (7) ◽  
pp. 1047-1055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhisa Kinoshita ◽  
Tim L. Noetzel ◽  
Laurence Pelletier ◽  
Karl Mechtler ◽  
David N. Drechsel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Microtubule Assembly ◽  
Aurora A ◽  
Specific Mechanism ◽  
Microtubule Polymerization ◽  
Egg Extracts ◽  
Microtubule Growth

Centrosomes act as sites of microtubule growth, but little is known about how the number and stability of microtubules emanating from a centrosome are controlled during the cell cycle. We studied the role of the TACC3–XMAP215 complex in this process by using purified proteins and Xenopus laevis egg extracts. We show that TACC3 forms a one-to-one complex with and enhances the microtubule-stabilizing activity of XMAP215 in vitro. TACC3 enhances the number of microtubules emanating from mitotic centrosomes, and its targeting to centrosomes is regulated by Aurora A–dependent phosphorylation. We propose that Aurora A regulation of TACC3 activity defines a centrosome-specific mechanism for regulation of microtubule polymerization in mitosis.

scholarly journals Alternative linker histone permits fast paced nuclear divisions in early Drosophila embryo

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (16) ◽  
pp. 9007-9018
Author(s):  
László Henn ◽  
Anikó Szabó ◽  
László Imre ◽  
Ádám Román ◽  
Andrea Ábrahám ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Linker Histone ◽  
Early Embryogenesis ◽  
Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Core Histone ◽  
Early Embryos ◽  
Early Drosophila Embryo ◽  
Nucleosome Stability

Abstract In most animals, the start of embryogenesis requires specific histones. In Drosophila linker histone variant BigH1 is present in early embryos. To uncover the specific role of this alternative linker histone at early embryogenesis, we established fly lines in which domains of BigH1 have been replaced partially or completely with that of H1. Analysis of the resulting Drosophila lines revealed that at normal temperature somatic H1 can substitute the alternative linker histone, but at low temperature the globular and C-terminal domains of BigH1 are essential for embryogenesis. In the presence of BigH1 nucleosome stability increases and core histone incorporation into nucleosomes is more rapid, while nucleosome spacing is unchanged. Chromatin formation in the presence of BigH1 permits the fast-paced nuclear divisions of the early embryo. We propose a model which explains how this specific linker histone ensures the rapid nucleosome reassembly required during quick replication cycles at the start of embryogenesis.

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