Journal Article

DKFZ-2017-00875

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png The supercoiling state of DNA determines the handedness of both H3 and CENP-A nucleosomes.190

Vlijm, R. (First author)DKFZ* ; Kim, S. H. ; De Zwart, P. L. ; Dalal, Y. ; Dekker, C.

2017
RSC Publ. Cambridge

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1039/C6NR06245H

Abstract: Nucleosomes form the unit structure of the genome in eukaryotes, thereby constituting a fundamental tenet of chromatin biology. In canonical nucleosomes, DNA wraps around the histone octamer in a left-handed toroidal ramp. Here, in single-molecule magnetic tweezers studies of chaperone-assisted nucleosome assembly, we show that the handedness of the DNA wrapping around the nucleosome core is intrinsically ambidextrous, and depends on the pre-assembly supercoiling state of the DNA, i.e., it is not uniquely determined by the octameric histone core. Nucleosomes assembled onto negatively supercoiled DNA are found to exhibit a left-handed conformation, whereas assembly onto positively supercoiled DNA results in right-handed nucleosomes. This intrinsic flexibility to adopt both chiralities is observed both for canonical H3 nucleosomes, and for centromere-specific variant CENP-A nucleosomes. These data support recent advances suggesting an intrinsic adaptability of the nucleosome, and provide insights into how nucleosomes might rapidly re-assemble after cellular processes that generate positive supercoiling in vivo.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Optische Nanoskopie (E190)

Research Program(s):

1. 315 - Imaging and radiooncology (POF3-315) (POF3-315)

Appears in the scientific report 2017

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Database coverage:
; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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