Biomedical subjects

M J Hendzel

Publications and source records attributed to M J Hendzel.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Chromatin condensation is not associated with apoptosis.

Apoptosis plays an important role in the survival of an organism, and substantial work has been done to understand the signaling pathways that regulate this process. Characteristic changes in chromatin organization accompany apoptosis and are routinely used as markers for cell death. We have examined the organization of chromatin in apoptotic PC12 and HeLa cells by indirect immunofluorescence and electron spectroscopic imaging. Our results indicate that de novo chromatin condensation normally seen during mitosis does not occur when cells undergo apoptosis. Instead, the condensed chromatin typically observed results from aggregation of the heterochromatin. We present evidence that, early in apoptosis, there is a rapid degradation of the nuclease-hypersensitive euchromatin that contains hyperacetylated histones. This occurs coincident with the loss of nuclear integrity due to degradation of lamins and reorganization of intranuclear protein matrix. These events lead to collapse of the nucleus and aggregation of heterochromatin to produce the appearance of condensed apoptotic chromatin. This heterochromatin aggregate is then digested by nucleases to produce the oligonucleosomal DNA ladder that is a hallmark of late apoptosis. Unlike mitosis, we have not seen any evidence for the requirement of phosphorylated histones H1 and H3 to maintain the chromatin in the condensed state.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Organization of highly acetylated chromatin around sites of heterogeneous nuclear RNA accumulation.

Histones found within transcriptionally competent and active regions of the genome are highly acetylated. Moreover, these highly acetylated histones have very short half-lives. Thus, both histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases must enrich within or near these euchromatic regions of the interphase chromatids. Using an antibody specific for highly acetylated histone H3, we have investigated the organization of transcriptionally active and competent chromatin as well as nuclear histone acetyltransferase and deacetylase activities. We observe an exclusion of highly acetylated chromatin around the periphery of the nucleus and an enrichment near interchromatin granule clusters (IGCs). The highly acetylated chromatin is found in foci that may reflect the organization of highly acetylated chromatin into "chromonema" fibers. Transmission electron microscopy of Indian muntjac fibroblast cell nuclei indicates that the chromatin associated with the periphery of IGCs remains relatively condensed, most commonly found in domains containing chromatin folded beyond 30 nm. Using electron spectroscopic imaging, we demonstrate that IGCs are clusters of ribonucleoprotein particles. The individual granules comprise RNA-rich fibrils or globular regions that fold into individual granules. Quantitative analysis of individual granules indicates that they contain variable amounts of RNA estimated between 1.5 and >10 kb. We propose that interchromatin granules are heterogeneous nuclear RNA-containing particles, some of which may be pre-mRNA generated by nearby transcribed chromatin. An intermediary zone between the IGC and surrounding chromatin is described that contains factors with the potential to provide specificity to the localization of sequences near IGCs.

Acetylation↗

PubMed1997

Fixation-dependent organization of core histones following DNA fluorescent in situ hybridization.

We have evaluated the effects of different DNA denaturation protocols commonly used in DNA fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments on chromatin structure using indirect immunofluorescence. The use of antibodies to acetylated histones H3 and H4 demonstrates that the different procedures differ considerably in their extent of histone displacement. Procedures involving paraformaldehyde fixation were found to be compatible with the structural preservation of acetylated chromatin organization by indirect immunofluorescence. These results provide a basis for interpreting DNA FISH experiments aimed at determining chromatin organization of individual loci.

Acetylation↗

PubMed1997

Mitosis-specific phosphorylation of histone H3 initiates primarily within pericentromeric heterochromatin during G2 and spreads in an ordered fashion coincident with mitotic chromosome condensation.

We have generated and characterized a novel site-specific antibody highly specific for the phosphorylated form of the amino-terminus of histone H3 (Ser10). In this study, we used this antibody to examine in detail the relationship between H3 phosphorylation and mitotic chromosome condensation in mammalian cells. Our results extend previous biochemical studies by demonstrating that mitotic phosphorylation of H3 initiates nonrandomly in pericentromeric heterochromatin in late G2 interphase cells. Following initiation, H3 phosphorylation appears to spread throughout the condensing chromatin and is complete in most cell lines just prior to the formation of prophase chromosomes, in which a phosphorylated, but nonmitotic, chromosomal organization is observed. In general, there is a precise spatial and temporal correlation between H3 phosphorylation and initial stages of chromatin condensation. Dephosphorylation of H3 begins in anaphase and is complete immediately prior to detectable chromosome decondensation in telophase cells. We propose that the singular phosphorylation of the amino-terminus of histone H3 may be involved in facilitating two key functions during mitosis: (1) regulate protein-protein interactions to promote binding of trans-acting factors that "drive" chromatin condensation as cells enter M-phase and (2) coordinate chromatin decondensation associated with M-phase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Changes in the nuclear matrix of chicken erythrocytes that accompany maturation.

The protein composition and structure of nuclear matrices isolated from adult chicken immature and mature erythrocytes were analysed. Visualization of nuclear matrices by electron microscopy showed that immature-erythrocyte nuclear matrices had internal structures, while most mature-erythrocyte nuclear matrices did not. Both mature- and immature-erythrocyte nuclear matrices were surrounded by a fibrous network of intermediate filaments. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of proteins obtained from fractionated nuclear matrices led to the assignment of the proteins as components of the nuclear porelamina, internal matrix, or cytoskeleton. Common and different proteins belonging to one of the three groups were identified in nuclear matrices of immature and mature erythrocytes. Investigation of the partitioning of histone deacetylase activity, an enzyme associated with the internal matrix, among the erythroid nuclear matrix fractions provided evidence that mature- and immature-erythrocyte nuclear matrices have internal structures. However, the activity of histone deacetylase and level of internal matrix proteins from mature-erythrocyte nuclear matrices were less than those from immature-erythrocyte matrices. The low levels of nuclear RNA and internal matrix proteins may account for lack of visual evidence for an internal matrix in mature erythrocytes.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Probing nuclear ultrastructure by electron spectroscopic imaging.

Mammalian nuclei are complex organelles containing many functionally distinct nucleoprotein and protein particles in the size range 20-30 nm. This complexity hinders the study of structure-function relationships within the mammalian nucleus. Element-specific mapping using the energy-filtered transmission electron microscope can provide novel information on protein and nucleic acid density within structures, facilitating the identification of biochemical heterogeneity within morphologically similar structures. We demonstrate that imaging phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon can be useful in the characterization of protein and nucleoprotein structures within the nucleus. Additionally, electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) may be used to map the distribution of strains relative to unstained material when biochemical-specific staining protocols, such as EDTA-regressive staining of RNA with uranyl acetate, are used. Relative mass may also be determined from ESI images and can be combined with elemental information further to distinguish biological constituents. Using this approach, heterochromatin was found to be variable in nucleic acid content although the morphology appeared relatively homogenous. ESI shows substantial promise for the investigation of structure-function relationships in biological specimens.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Topoisomerase II alpha is associated with the mammalian centromere in a cell cycle- and species-specific manner and is required for proper centromere/kinetochore structure.

A study of the distribution of Topoisomerase II alpha (Topo II) in cells of six tissue culture cell lines, human (HeLa), mouse (L929), rat, Indian muntjac, rat kangaroo (PTK-2), and wallaby revealed the following features: (1) There is a cell cycle association of a specific population of Topo II with the centromere. (2) The centromere is distinguished from the remainder of the chromosome by the intensity of its Topo II reactivity. (3) The first appearance of a detectable population of Topo II at the centromere varies between species but is correlated with the onset of centromeric heterochromatin condensation. (4) Detectable centromeric Topo II declines at the completion of cell division. (5) The distribution pattern of Topo II within the centromere is species- and stage-specific and is conserved only within the kinetochore domain. In addition, we report that the Topo II inhibitor ICRF-193 can prevent the normal accumulation of Topo II at the centromere. This results in the disruption of chromatin condensation sub-adjacent to the kinetochore as well as the perturbation of kinetochore structure. Taken together, our studies indicate that the distribution of Topo II at the centromere is unlike that reported for the remainder of the chromosome and is essential for proper formation of centromere/kinetochore structure.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

RNA polymerase II transcription and the functional organization of the mammalian cell nucleus.

The study of RNA pol II-mediated transcription regulation has been dominated by molecular biological approaches. Although these methods continue to provide important insights, other approaches are required to insure against an oversimplified view of gene expression. Improvements in EM methods and the development of the confocal light microscope have provided alternative and complementary means of investigating gene regulation. Information on the "context" in which cis- and trans-acting factors operate can be achieved with these techniques. As a result, the spatial compartmentalization of nuclear processes involved in transcriptional and post-transcriptional processing has received considerable attention.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Histone acetyltransferase is associated with the nuclear matrix.

Only a small fraction of the adult chicken erythrocyte histones is involved in dynamic acetylation. We have reported previously that the rapidly acetylated and deacetylated H4 histones are primarily associated with the transcriptionally active DNA-enriched chromatin fragments that remain attached to the residual nuclear material following micrococcal nuclease digestion and chromatin solubilization. Furthermore, this nuclear fraction contained most of the histone deacetylase activity. In this study we show that the bulk of the nuclear histone acetyltransferase activity is located with the insoluble residual nuclear material. We demonstrate that in vitro the enzymes associated with the residual nuclear material catalyze reversible acetylation when the endogenous histones of the nuclear skeleton-bound chromatin fragments are used as substrate. Nuclear matrices isolated from adult chicken immature erythrocyte and trout liver nuclei had 60-76% of the nuclear histone acetyltransferase activity. Procedures that solubilized the internal nuclear matrix also resulted in the release of the enzyme from the nuclear matrix. Together, our observations suggest that histone acetyltransferase and deacetylase are associated with the internal nuclear matrix, and one of the functions of these enzymes may be to mediate a dynamic attachment between transcriptionally active chromatin and the nuclear matrix.

Acetates↗

PubMed1994

Multiple functions of dynamic histone acetylation.

Besides its role in organizing nuclear DNA, the nuclear matrix is involved in specific nuclear functions, including replication, transcription, and RNA splicing. It is becoming increasingly evident that nuclear processes are localized to distinct regions in the nucleus. For example, transcriptionally active genes and RNA transcripts are found in discrete transcription foci. Current evidence suggests that nuclear matrix-bound transcriptionally active DNA sequences are in nucleosomes with dynamically acetylated histones. Histone acetylation, which precedes transcription, alters nucleosome and chromatin structure, decondensing the chromatin fibre and making the nucleosomal DNA accessible to transcription factors. Histone acetyltransferase and histone deacetylase, which catalyze this rapid acetylation and deacetylation, are associated with the internal nuclear matrix. We hypothesize that these enzymes play a role in maintaining the association of the active chromatin domains with the internal nuclear matrix at sites of ongoing transcription.

Acetylation↗

PubMed1993

Effects of histone acetylation, ubiquitination and variants on nucleosome stability.

The properties of the nucleosomes of a salt-soluble, transcriptionally active gene-enriched fraction of chicken erythrocyte chromatin were evaluated by hydroxyapatite dissociation chromatography. We have demonstrated previously that the salt-soluble, transcriptionally active gene-enriched polynucleosomes are enriched in dynamically acetylated and ubiquitinated histones, and in an atypical U-shaped nucleosome that possessed about 20% less protein than a typical nucleosome. Further, newly synthesized histones H2A and H2B exchange preferentially with the nucleosomal histones H2A and H2B of this salt-soluble chromatin fraction. Analysis of the histones eluting from the hydroxyapatite-bound chromatin demonstrated that hyperacetylated and ubiquitinated (u), including multi-ubiquitinated, H2A-H2B.1 dimers dissociated at lower concentrations of NaCl than unmodified dimers or dimers with histone variants H2A.Z and/or H2B.2. Cross-linking studies revealed that at least 50% of uH2B.1 was paired with uH2A. uH2A-uH2B.1 dimers dissociated at lower NaCl concentrations than H2A-uH2B.1 dimers. Hyperacetylated histone (H3-H4)2 tetramers also eluted at lower concentrations of NaCl than unmodified tetramers. Our results support the idea that acetylation and ubiquitination of histones H2A and H2B.1 increase the lability of H2A-H2B.1 dimers in transcriptionally active nucleosomes. In contrast, our observations suggest that histone variants H2A.Z and H2B.2. stabilize the association of the H2A-H2B dimer in nucleosomes. The elevated lability of the H2A-H2B dimer may facilitate processes such as the exchange of these dimers with newly synthesized histones, the elongation process of transcription and transcription factor binding.

Acetylation↗

PubMed1992

Acetylation and methylation of histones H3 and H4 in chicken immature erythrocytes are not directly coupled.

The relationship between histone methylation and dynamic histone acetylation was investigated. Previously, we demonstrated in chicken erythrocytes that dynamically acetylated histones H3 and H4 of transcriptionally active gene chromatin were selectively methylated. However, methylation of these histones was not dependent upon their acetylated states. Here, we tested the hypothesis that methylation tags these histones for participation in dynamic acetylation. Using an inhibitor of protein methylation, adenosine dialdehyde, we show that the processes of histone methylation and dynamic acetylation are not directly coupled. Our results suggest that the selective methylation of dynamically acetylated chromatin reflects features of the organization of transcriptionally active gene chromatin.

Acetylation↗

PubMed1992

Nuclear distribution of histone deacetylase: a marker enzyme for the internal nuclear matrix.

Nuclear matrins are proteins that localize to the internal nuclear matrix. In a previous study, we reported that histone deacetylase is a component of the internal matrix, suggesting that histone deacetylase is a nuclear matrin. Here, we demonstrate that the majority of the histone deacetylase activity is associated with the internal nuclear matrices of chicken and trout liver. Thus, the association of the histone deacetylase with the internal nuclear matrix is neither tissue- nor species-specific. Using histone deacetylase as a marker enzyme for the partitioning of the internal nuclear matrix during nuclear fractionations, we show that in contrast to the internal nuclear matrices of trout liver, trout hepatocellular carcinoma and chicken liver, the stability of the chicken erythrocyte internal nuclear matrix is temperature-dependent. Our results support a model that has the histone deacetylase mediating transient interactions between the internal nuclear matrix and chromatin regions undergoing dynamic acetylation, for example transcriptionally active chromatin regions.

Acetylation↗

PubMed1992

Nuclear matrix proteins bind very tightly to specific regions of the chicken histone H5 gene.

The nuclear matrix is operationally defined as the structure remaining after nuclease-digested nuclei are extracted with high concentrations of salt. The nuclear matrix is thought to have a role in organizing higher order chromatin into loop domains. We determined whether specific regions of the histone H5 gene were very tightly bound to protein of erythrocyte and liver nuclear matrices in vitro. We demonstrate that DNA fragments spanning sequences 5' to the promoter and the 3' enhancer region of the histone H5 gene, but not DNA fragments spanning the promoter, were very tightly bound to protein of nuclear matrices of erythrocytes and liver. The nuclear matrix consists of internal nuclear matrix and nuclear pore-lamina complex. Recently, we demonstrated that histone deacetylase could be used as a marker enzyme of the internal nuclear matrix. We demonstrate that nuclear pore-lamina complex preparations that were depleted of histone deacetylase activity, and thus of internal nuclear matrix, retained the protein that bound very tightly to the beta-globin and histone H5 enhancers. These results provide evidence that specific regions of the histone H5 gene are very tightly bound to nuclear pore-lamina complex protein.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Histone deacetylase is a component of the internal nuclear matrix.

In chicken immature erythrocytes, approximately 4% of the modifiable histone lysine sites participate in active acetylation. There are two categories of actively acetylated histone H4. Although both are acetylated at the same rate (t1/2 = 12 min), one is acetylated to the tetraacetylated form and is rapidly deacetylated (class 1), and the other is acetylated to mono- and diacetylated forms and is slowly deacetylated (class 2). We show that the chromatin distribution of the class 1 labeled tetraacetylated H4 species paralleled that of the transcriptionally active DNA sequences. For example, the chromatin fragments of the insoluble nuclear material contained 76% of the active DNA and 74% of the labeled tetraacetylated H4. Class 2 labeled acetylated H4 species were found in repressed chromatin and were enriched in active/competent gene-enriched chromatin fragments. The majority of the histone deacetylase activity (75-80%) was located with the insoluble residual nuclear material. Further, approximately 40-50% of the enzyme activity was associated with nuclear matrices prepared by two methods using high salt and intermediate/high salt extraction. Histone deacetylase was solubilized by extracting the nuclear matrices with high salt and 2-mercaptoethanol, a procedure that generates nuclear pore-lamina complexes. These results demonstrate that histone deacetylase is a component of the internal nuclear matrix.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Dynamically acetylated histones of chicken erythrocytes are selectively methylated.

The relationship between histone acetylation and methylation in chicken immature erythrocytes was investigated. Previous studies have shown that transcriptionally active/competent gene-enriched chromatin fragments are enriched in newly methylated histones H3 and H4. Moreover, newly methylated histone H4 is hyperacetylated. Here, we show that dynamically acetylated histone H4 is selectively engaged in ongoing methylation. While sodium butyrate (an inhibitor of histone deacetylase) does not inhibit ongoing histone methylation, it does affect the acetylation state of newly methylated histone H4 when chicken immature erythrocytes are incubated in its presence or absence. Only one rate of acetylation of labelled newly methylated unacetylated histone H4 with a t1/2 of 8 min is observed. Previous studies have shown that the solubility of transcriptionally active/competent gene chromatin fragments in 0.15 M-NaCl is dependent upon the level of acetylated histone species, with induction of hyperacetylation increasing the solubility of this gene chromatin. Here, we show that the low salt solubility of chromatin fragments associated with newly methylated histones H3 and H4 is also dependent upon the level of acetylated histones. These results provide further support for the hypothesis that histones participating in ongoing methylation are associated with transcriptionally active/competent chromatin and suggest that the processes of histone H4 methylation and dynamic acetylation are partially coupled in terminally differentiated erythrocytes.

Acetylation↗

PubMed1990

Nucleosomal histones of transcriptionally active/competent chromatin preferentially exchange with newly synthesized histones in quiescent chicken erythrocytes.

The incorporation of newly synthesized histones among various chromatin fraction isolated from non-replicating cell-cycle-phase-Go chicken immature erythrocytes was investigated. We find that newly synthesized erythroid-specific histone Hl variant H5, is incorporated randomly into chromatin. In contrast, newly synthesized nucleosomal histones H2A, H2A.Z, H2B, H3.3, and H4 are preferentially found in a fraction that is highly enriched in active/competent gene chromatin fragments and depleted in repressed gene chromatin. Moreover, ubiquitinated species of histones H2A and H2B and hyperacetylated species of H4 and H2B, which are complexed to active DNA, are labelled. These observations provide evidence that newly synthesized histones preferentially exchange with the nucleosomal histones of transcriptionally active/component chromatin domains. The results of this study suggest that nucleosomes of active chromatin may be inherently less stable than bulk nucleosomes in vivo and have implications for chromatin remodelling.

Acetylation↗

PubMed1990

Histone acetylation alters the capacity of the H1 histones to condense transcriptionally active/competent chromatin.

The relationship between histone acetylation and the capacity of H1 histones to cause the 0.15 M NaCl-induced aggregation/precipitation of transcriptionally active/competent gene chromatin fragments was investigated. Previous studies have shown that transcriptionally active/competent, but not repressed, gene chromatin polynucleosomes, which were isolated from chicken erythrocytes, remained soluble in 0.15 M NaCl after being reconstituted with H1 histones. This result suggested that some component of the active/competent gene nucleosome altered the capacity of the H1 histones to condense the chromatin fiber. Recently, Hebbes et al. (Hebbes, T.R., Thorne, A.W., and Crane-Robinson, C. (1988) EMBO J. 7, 1395-1402) demonstrated directly that active, but not repressed, gene chromatin of chicken erythroid cells contain high levels of acetylated histones. Here, we show that the solubility of active/competent gene chromatin fragments in 0.15 M NaCl is dependent on the level of acetylated histone species, with induction of hyperacetylation increasing the solubility of this gene chromatin. Also, we show that lowering the levels of the acetylated histone forms reduces the ability of the active/competent gene chromatin fragments to resist exogenously added H1-histone-induced 0.15 M NaCl aggregation/precipitation. These results suggest that histone acetylation alters the capacity of the H1 histones to form compact higher order chromatin structures such that active/competent gene chromatin is maintained in a less folded state than the bulk of chromatin.

Acetylation↗