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Phosphorylation of linker histones regulates ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes

Nature Structural Biology volume 9, pages 263–267 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Members of the ATP-dependent family of chromatin remodeling enzymes play key roles in the regulation of transcription, development, DNA repair and cell cycle control. We find that the remodeling activities of the ySWI/SNF, hSWI/SNF, xMi-2 and xACF complexes are nearly abolished by incorporation of linker histones into nucleosomal array substrates. Much of this inhibition is independent of linker histone-induced folding of the arrays. We also find that phosphorylation of the linker histone by Cdc2/Cyclin B kinase can rescue remodeling by ySWI/SNF. These results suggest that linker histones exert a global, genome-wide control over remodeling activities, implicating a new, obligatory coupling between linker histone kinases and ATP-dependent remodeling enzymes.

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Figure 1: Linker histones inhibit SWI/SNF remodeling.
Figure 2: Linker histones do not prevent chromatin binding of ySWI/SNF.
Figure 3: Linker histones globally inhibit remodeling enzymes.
Figure 4: Linker histone phosphorylation rescues remodeling.

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Acknowledgements

These studies were supported by grants from the NIH to C.L.P. and J.C.H., a NIH NRSA to P.J.H, and a PO1 from the NCI to C.L.P. and A.N.I.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, 01605, Massachusetts, USA

    Peter J. Horn, Lenny M. Carruthers & Craig L. Peterson

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, 78229, Texas, USA

    Lenny M. Carruthers & Jeffrey C. Hansen

  3. Nijmegen Center for Molecular Sciences, Nijmegen, 6500-HB, The Netherlands

    Colin Logie

  4. Department of Cell Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, 01655, Massachusetts, USA

    David A. Hill & Anthony N. Imbalzano

  5. Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, 06520, Connecticut, USA

    Mark J. Solomon

  6. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, 30322, Georgia, USA

    Paul A. Wade

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Correspondence to Craig L. Peterson.

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Horn, P., Carruthers, L., Logie, C. et al. Phosphorylation of linker histones regulates ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes. Nat Struct Mol Biol 9, 263–267 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsb776

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