Single-molecule kinetic analysis of HP1-chromatin binding reveals a dynamic network of histone modification and DNA interactions

Chromatin recruitment of effector proteins involved in gene regulation depends on multivalent interaction with histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) and structural features of the chromatin fiber. Due to the complex interactions involved, it is currently not understood how effectors dynamically sample the chromatin landscape. Here, we dissect the dynamic chromatin interactions of a family of multivalent effectors, heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) proteins, using single-molecule fluorescence imaging and computational modeling. We show that the three human HP1 isoforms are recruited and retained on chromatin by a dynamic exchange between histone PTM and DNA bound states. These interactions depend on local chromatin structure, the HP1 isoforms as well as on PTMs on HP1 itself. Of the HP1 isoforms, HP1 alpha exhibits the longest residence times and fastest binding rates due to DNA interactions in addition to PTM binding. HP1 alpha phosphorylation further increases chromatin retention through strengthening of multivalency while reducing DNA binding. As DNA binding in combination with specific PTM recognition is found in many chromatin effectors, we propose a general dynamic capture mechanism for effector recruitment. Multiple weak protein and DNA interactions result in a multivalent interaction network that targets effectors to a specific chromatin modification state, where their activity is required.

Integrated microfluidic tools for the characterization of protein/DNA interactions in vitro and in vivo

Riccardo Dainese

The specific interaction between DNA and proteins constitutes one of the crucial elements in the regulation of gene expression. This thesis focuses on the development and optimization of two microfluidic-based technologies called SMiLE-seq and FloChIP that enable the sensitive and high-throughput analysis of two important aspects of protein/DNA interactions: respectively, 1) the transcription factor DNA-binding specificities and 2) the genome-wide distribution of chromatin-associated proteins. In Chapter 1, we describe the core motivation, operating principles, optimization and results obtained with SMiLE-seq. As opposed to existing solutions, SMiLE-seq offers the possibility to screen a large library of randomized DNA for sequence-specific protein ligands in a miniaturized context. SMiLE-seq integrates in a single microfluidic chip the advantages of both HT-SELEX and MITOMI. We first demonstrate as proof-of-principle that SMiLE-seq successfully recapitulates with robustness and reproducibility the binding specificities of known factors belonging to different species and TF families. Subsequently, we target the numerous although largely uncharacterized family of TFs called KRAB-ZFPs. We initially set out to redesign the microfluidic and protocol architecture in order to attain maximal throughput and sensitivity. Next, we add the ability of probing the sensitivity of these factors to methylation by synthesizing randomized methylated DNA libraries. Finally, we proceed to test 101 KRAB-ZFPs with both methylated and non-methylated DNA. We obtain high confidence motifs for 43 factors, of which 22 we not sensitive to methylation, 10 yielded motifs only with methylated DNA and 10 only with non-methylated DNA. By integrating our SMiLE-seq data with published ChIP-exo data and in silico predictions, we develop a framework for systematically identifying which zinc fingers directly contribute to DNA binding for a given KRAB-ZFPs. In Chapter 2, we describe the development and results obtained with FloChIP, a microfluidic implementation of the widespread ChIP-seq and sequential ChIP-seq protocols. FloChIP encompasses three main technological advances: 1) the multi-layered serface chemistry that allows any off-the-shelf antibody to be immobilized on-chip and and 2) a micropillar architecture that provides high surface-to-volume ratio and efficient removal of non-specific DNA. 3) The direct on-chip tagmentation of immunoprecipitated DNA. We validate our approach by first performing H3k27ac ChIP-seq on different number of sample inputs, i.e. from 500 to 10^6 cells. Next, we proceed to prove the flexibility of our approach by performing ChIP-seq on different histone marks â namely H3k27ac, H3k27me3, H3k4me3, H3k4me1 and H3k9me3 â and comparing them to existing ENCODE data. Both region-specific profiles and enrichment scores show high similarity with publicly available data. Subsequently, we set out to demonstrate the feasibility of on-chip sequential-ChIP-seq by performing consecutive H3k4me3 and H3k27me3 IP on chromatin derived from mouse embryonic stem cells. Finally, we illustrate the high-throughput feature of our technology by performing MEF2A-ChIP-seq on chromatin derived from 32 different lymphoblastoid cell lines.

EPFL2019

Structural and functional characterisation of the KRAB-domain associated protein 1

Giulia Fonti

KAP1 (KRAB-domain associated protein 1) plays a fundamental role in regulating gene expression in mammalian cells by recruiting different transcription factors and altering the chromatin state. In doing so, KAP1 acts both as a platform for macromolecular interactions and as an E3 SUMO ligase. This work sheds light on the overall organization of the full-length protein combining solution scattering data, integrative modeling and single-molecule experiments. We show that KAP1 is an elongated antiparallel dimer with an asymmetry at the C-terminal domains. This conformation is consistent with the finding that the RING domain contributes to KAP1 auto-SUMOylation. Importantly, this intrinsic asymmetry has key functional implications for the KAP1 network of interactions, as the heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) occupies only one of the two putative HP1 binding sites on the KAP1 dimer, resulting in an unexpected stoichiometry, even in the context of chromatin fibers.

EPFL2019

KAP1 is an antiparallel dimer with a functional asymmetry

Louise Catherine Bryan, Matteo Dal Peraro, Davide Demurtas, Beat Fierz, Giulia Fonti, Pierre-Yves Joseph Laurent Helleboid, Alexandra Styliani Kalantzi, Maria Josefina Marcaida Lopez, Didier Trono

KAP1 (KRAB domain-associated protein 1) plays a fundamental role in regulating gene expression in mammalian cells by recruiting different transcription factors and altering the chromatin state. In doing so, KAP1 acts both as a platform for macromolecular interactions and as an E3 small ubiquitin modifier ligase. This work sheds light on the overall organization of the full-length protein combining solution scattering data, integrative modeling, and single-molecule experiments. We show that KAP1 is an elongated antiparallel dimer with an asymmetry at the C-terminal domains. This conformation is consistent with the finding that the Really Interesting New Gene (RING) domain contributes to KAP1 auto-SUMOylation. Importantly, this intrinsic asymmetry has key functional implications for the KAP1 network of interactions, as the heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) occupies only one of the two putative HP1 binding sites on the KAP1 dimer, resulting in an unexpected stoichiometry, even in the context of chromatin fibers.

Life Science Alliance, LLC2019

Integrated microfluidic tools for the characterization of protein/DNA interactions in vitro and in vivo

Riccardo Dainese

EPFL2019