A Method for Genetically Installing Site-Specific Acetylation in Recombinant Histones Defines the Effects of H3 K56 Acetylation

• Published in: Molecular cell Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 153 - 163
• Main Authors: Neumann, Heinz, Hancock, Susan M., Buning, Ruth, Routh, Andrew, Chapman, Lynda, Somers, Joanna, Owen-Hughes, Tom, van Noort, John, Rhodes, Daniela, Chin, Jason W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 09.10.2009; Cell Press
• Subjects: Acetylation; Amino Acid Substitution - physiology; Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases - genetics; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly - drug effects; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly - physiology; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone - metabolism; DNA; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; Histones - biosynthesis; Histones - genetics; Histones - metabolism; Humans; Lysine - analogs & derivatives; Lysine - genetics; Lysine - metabolism; Nucleosomes - drug effects; Nucleosomes - metabolism; PROTEINS; Recombinant Proteins - biosynthesis; Recombinant Proteins - genetics; Recombinant Proteins - metabolism; Resource; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - metabolism; Sodium Chloride - pharmacology; Transcription Factors - metabolism; PROTEINS; DNA
• ISSN: 1097-2765; 1097-4164
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2009.07.027

Lysine acetylation of histones defines the epigenetic status of human embryonic stem cells and orchestrates DNA replication, chromosome condensation, transcription, telomeric silencing, and DNA repair. A detailed mechanistic explanation of these phenomena is impeded by the limited availability of homogeneously acetylated histones. We report a general method for the production of homogeneously and site-specifically acetylated recombinant histones by genetically encoding acetyl-lysine. We reconstitute histone octamers, nucleosomes, and nucleosomal arrays bearing defined acetylated lysine residues. With these designer nucleosomes, we demonstrate that, in contrast to the prevailing dogma, acetylation of H3 K56 does not directly affect the compaction of chromatin and has modest effects on remodeling by SWI/SNF and RSC. Single-molecule FRET experiments reveal that H3 K56 acetylation increases DNA breathing 7-fold. Our results provide a molecular and mechanistic underpinning for cellular phenomena that have been linked with K56 acetylation.