![]() |
|
|
Vol. 19, Issue 8, 3308-3322, August 2008
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

,

*Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-5055; and
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46221
Submitted February 6, 2008;
Revised April 24, 2008;
Accepted May 21, 2008
Monitoring Editor: Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz
| ABSTRACT |
|---|
|
|
|---|
| INTRODUCTION |
|---|
|
|
|---|
SWI/SNF is one of three subclasses of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes that have been identified in mammalian cells (Peterson, 2002
). The SWI/SNF complex exists in one of two forms, containing either one of two highly homologous ATPases, BRG1 or BRM and several shared subunits collectively called BAFs (BRG1- or BRM-associated factors). SWI/SNF is an evolutionarily conserved,
2 MDa multisubunit complex interacting with a wide variety of proteins and is functionally implicated in cell cycle, differentiation, and cancer (Muchardt and Yaniv, 2001
; Klochendler-Yeivin et al., 2002
; Roberts and Orkin, 2004
; Cho et al., 2004
; Gregory and Shiekhattar, 2004
; Imbalzano and Jones, 2005
). Several subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex possess tumor suppressor activity and play key roles in the functional activity of other tumor suppressor genes including Rb, BRCA1, and c-MYC (Muchardt and Yaniv, 2001
; Roberts and Orkin, 2004
). For example, a core subunit of SWI/SNF, Snf5 (Ini1) is inactivated in highly aggressive malignant rhabdoid tumors (Versteege et al., 1998
; Biegel et al., 1999
; Sevenet et al., 1999
).
Upon hormone binding, nuclear hormone receptors such as the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) bind hormone response elements and regulate transcription at their target genes through the recruitment of a variety of coactivators, corepressors, chromatin remodeling activities, and components of the basal transcription machinery (Fragoso et al., 1998
; Giangrande et al., 2000
; Dilworth and Chambon, 2001
; McKenna and O'Malley, 2002
; Schaaf and Cidlowski, 2003
; Belandia and Parker, 2003
; Metivier et al., 2003
; Hager et al., 2006
; Carroll and Brown, 2006
; Lee et al., 2006
). To further understand the process by which chromatin-remodeling complexes are recruited and regulate target genes to modulate transcription, we have directly visualized the sequence of gene expression events involving the SWI/SNF complex in mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cells that contain a tandem repeat of stably integrated copies of the MMTV-LTR (mouse mammary tumor virus–long terminal repeat). This array which contains 800-1200 binding sites for GR can be visualized by using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged versions of steroid receptors and associated cofactors (Kramer et al., 1999
; McNally et al., 2000
; Rayasam et al., 2005
). We have investigated the molecular basis by which SWI/SNF regulates transcription as well as its influence on the chromatin structure of a steroid hormone–responsive promoter array. Our study provides an integrated view of gene activation events demonstrating the hormone-dependent recruitment of SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complexes to the MMTV array and the associated chromatin remodeling, decondensation, and transcriptional events associated with SWI/SNF function. Furthermore, we demonstrate the dynamic interaction of BRG1 and BRM with the MMTV array and determine for the first time, by using in vivo photobleaching microscopy, that BRG1 and BRM chromatin-remodeling complexes have distinct kinetic properties on the MMTV array and dynamically associate with and dissociate from MMTV chromatin in a manner dependent on hormone and a functional ATPase domain. These results further our understanding of SWI/SNF action in chromatin remodeling and gene expression in vivo.
| MATERIALS AND METHODS |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Cell Culture and Stable Cell Lines
The murine mammary adenocarcinoma cell line (3134) contains a large tandem array of a mouse mammary tumor virus/Harvey ras reporter (Kramer et al., 1999
). In 3134 cells, 200 copies of the MMTV-LTR with 800-1200 GR-binding sites are stably integrated in a head-to-tail orientation into the centromeric region of chromosome 4 (McNally et al., 2000
). The 3617 cell line expressing GFP-GR under control of a tetracycline-repressible (Tet-Off) system is generated by stable transfection of 3134 cells (Walker et al., 1999
). The 3617 cell line was stably transfected with a Flag-tagged BRG1-K-R to generate the 5555 cell line. The 1365.1 cell line is derived from NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells by stable transformation with a multicopy episome and contains multiple tandem copies of a stably integrated MMTV-LTR array (Cordingley et al., 1987
; Bresnick et al., 1990
). Human adrenal carcinoma cells (SW13) are deficient in BRG1, BRM, and GR expression and were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, VA). All cell lines were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM; Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (Gemini, Woodland, CA), 2 mM L-glutamine, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 0.1 mM nonessential amino acids, 5 mg/ml penicillin-streptomycin, and 1 mg/ml G418 (Invitrogen) and kept at 37°C incubator with 5% CO2. Cells were transferred to 10% charcoal-dextran–treated, heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum for 24 h before hormone treatment. 3617 and 5555 cells were supplemented with 10 µg/ml tetracycline (FisherBiotech, Fair Lawn, NJ) to suppress GFP-GR and/or Flag-tagged mutant BRG1-K-R expression. In preparation for biochemical and imaging experiments, cell culture medium was replaced with the same medium without tetracycline and phenol red to induce the expression of GFP-GR or Flag-tagged BRG1-K-R. The cells were grown for an additional 18–24 h and GFR-GR or endogenous GR was activated using dexamethasone at 100 nM for 30 min.
Transfections, Immunoblot Analysis, and RNA Interference
In the SW13 transactivation assays, cells were transfected with GR, BRG1, BRM, BRG1-K-R, BRM-K-R, MMTV-LTR-Luc, and CMV β-Gal (as an internal control) using Lipofectamine 2000 according to manufacturer's instructions (Invitrogen). SW13 cells were treated with 100 nM dexamethasone for 4 h, and whole cell extracts prepared. Luciferase and β-galactosidase assays were performed by using the Dual Reporter Assay kit according to the manufacturer's instructions (Tropix, Bedford, MA). All transfections were done in triplicates and all experiments were repeated three times. For Western blots, 5555 cells were grown as described previously in the presence or absence of tetracycline to regulate the expression of Flag-tagged BRG1-K-R. Whole cell extracts were prepared and equal amounts of total cell extracts were fractioned on a 7.5% SDS-PAGE gels and electrotransferred to Immobilon-P (Millipore, Billerica, MA). Mutant BRG1-K-R was detected using a polyclonal anti-Flag antibody (kindly provided by Anthony Imbalzano). Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to BRG1 (smart pool) and scrambled siRNAs were purchased from Dharmacon (Chicago, IL). siRNAs were transfected into 3134 cells using Lipofectamine 2000 at a final concentration of 100 nM. After 3 d, cells were treated with 100 nM dexamethasone for 30 min, fixed, and processed for indirect immunofluorescence microscopy combined with RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (RNA FISH).
Restriction Endonuclease Accessibility Assay
Restriction endonuclease cleavage of MMTV chromatin was conducted as previously described (Mulholland et al., 2003
). Nuclei were isolated and digested with SacI restriction enzyme (New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA). DNA from nuclei was purified and digested to completion with DpnII (New England Biolabs). The digestion products were amplified linearly by primer extension using Taq polymerase and a radiolabeled primer specific to the MMTV-LTR promoter region. The extension products were run on an 8% denaturing sequencing gel and quantified on a phosphorimager using ImageQuant software (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, CA). Nuclease hypersensitivity and chromatin remodeling were expressed as % fractional cleavage, which was determined by dividing the intensity of the SacI digestion product by the sum of the intensities of the SacI and DpnII digestion products.
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed as previously described (Mulholland et al., 2003
) with some modifications. Briefly, 3617 and 5555 cells were treated with dexamethasone and tetracycline as described in Figure 4. Cells were fixed with formaldehyde and sonicated on ice with a Branson sonicator (Branson Ultrasonics, Danbury, CT) at a power setting of 20–30 W. After centrifugation, the soluble material was immunoprecipitated overnight with an anti-RNA polymerase II (pol II) antibody (provided by Kevin Gardner, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD). Antibody bound chromatin complexes were immunoprecipitated with protein A-agarose beads, and the bound material was eluted. Formaldehyde cross-links were reversed at 65°C overnight and DNA was purified. DNA from each sample was subjected to PCR (25 cycles) using primer sets specific for the MMTV-LTR nuc-B region. PCR products were run on 6% PAGE gels and stained with sybr green.
Immunofluorescence Microscopy
3134 and 5555 mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cells were grown on 22-mm2 glass coverslips in six-well plates. The cells were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and processed for indirect immunofluorescence microscopy as previously described (Parada et al., 2003
). The primary antibodies used in this study included anti-BRG1 at 1:100 (provided by Weidong Wang, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and by Anthony Imbalzano); anti-ISWI (Snf2h) at 1:200 (provided by Ramin Shiekhattar, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA); and polyclonal anti-BRM and anti-Flag at 1:100 (provided by Anthony Imbalzano). We used species-specific secondary antibodies designed for simultaneous multiple labeling (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, West Grove, PA). Secondary antibodies were conjugated to FITC or Texas Red. Images were acquired with narrow-band-pass emission filters (Chroma Technology, Rockingham, VT). DNA was stained with DAPI (Invitrogen), and the cells were mounted using Prolong Gold mounting solution (Invitrogen). Cells were imaged on an Olympus IE80 inverted microscope equipped with a 100x 1.35 NA oil immersion objective (Melville, NY) and a Photometrics CCD camera configured at 0.07-µm pixels (Tucson, AZ). Images were analyzed by using Metamorph software (Universal Imaging, Sunnyvale, CA). Colocalization of two distributions were verified by linescan analysis as previously described (Elbi et al., 2002
). A line was drawn through a colocalized region and fluorescence intensity peaks from two distributions were measured and then plotted using Metamorph software. Colocalization of the signals were confirmed by examining consecutive optical sections above and below the midplane optical sections covering the entire depth of the cell nuclei.
RNA FISH
3134 and 5555 cell lines were grown on 22-mm2 glass coverslips in six-well plates. Cells were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and processed for indirect immunofluorescence microscopy as described above. This was followed by a RNA FISH procedure to detect MMTV transcripts as described previously (Parada et al., 2003
; Rayasam et al., 2005
). All images were acquired with the same exposure times in order to compare across different treatment conditions. The RNA FISH signals were quantified using MetaMorph software. Thirty five cells from each treatment or control group were randomly selected. Background nuclear fluorescence intensity was subtracted from the RNA FISH fluorescence intensity in each cell. The regions defined by the RNA FISH fluorescence signals were identified by thresholding and the pixel intensities in the regions were averaged to compare across the different conditions. The average integrated intensities were plotted as a bar histogram, with error bars representing SE. We performed one way ANOVA (SPSS software) on all data sets. Where warranted by ANOVA results (p < 0.05), Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc tests (SPSS software) were applied to detect differences (p < 0.05) between experimental conditions.
DNA FISH
3134 cells were grown on 22-mm2 glass coverslips in six-well plates. Cells were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and processed for DNA FISH analysis to detect MMTV DNA using a probe specific for the MMTV-LTR array as previously described (Mueller et al., 2001
). This was followed by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. All images were acquired with the same exposure times in order to compare between different treatment conditions. The DNA FISH signals were quantified using MetaMorph software. Thirty-five cells from transfected or untransfected (control) group were randomly selected. Background nuclear fluorescence intensity was subtracted from DNA FISH fluorescence intensity in each cell. The regions defined by the DNA FISH fluorescence signals were identified by thresholding and the areas of MMTV arrays were measured. The areas from each experimental condition were averaged and plotted as a bar histogram, with error bars representing SE. We performed a one-way ANOVA (SPSS software) on all data sets. Where warranted by ANOVA results (p < 0.05), Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc tests (SPSS software) were applied to detect differences (p < 0.05) between experimental conditions.
Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching and Image Analysis
1361.5 cells were grown in Lab-Tek one-well chamber slides (Nalge Nunc International, Naperville, IL) for live cell fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments. Cells were transfected with YFP-BRG1, YFP-BRG1-K-R, and GFP-BRM and treated with 100 nM dexamethasone for 30 min. FRAP analysis was carried out on a Zeiss 510 laser-scanning confocal microscope (Thornwood, NY). The stage temperature was maintained at 37°C, and images were acquired with a 100x 1.3 NA oil immersion objective and 40 mW argon laser. Five single prebleach images were acquired followed by a brief bleach pulse of 160 ms using 458/488/514-nm laser lines at 100% laser power (laser output, 50%) without attenuation. Single optical sections were acquired at 490-ms intervals by using a 488-nm laser line with laser power attenuated to 0.1%. In all FRAP experiments, signal loss during the recovery period was <5% of the initial fluorescence intensity. The bleach extent and depth were confirmed by analyses of three-dimensional image stacks along the Z-plane of the image axis of fixed cells. Fluorescence intensities in the regions of interest were analyzed, and quantitative FRAP recovery curves were generated using LSM software and Microsoft Excel (Redmond, WA) as previously described (Elbi et al., 2004a
). Pseudocolor images of the MMTV array and the area of the bleached region were generated using MetaMorph software. All FRAP recovery curves were generated from background subtracted images, and all quantitative data for FRAP recovery kinetics represent means ± SE from at least 25 cells imaged in three independent experiments.
| RESULTS |
|---|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
ANOVA analysis of the RNA FISH data demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the BRG1-K-R–expressing and nonexpressing conditions (p < 10–8).
To eliminate the possibility that the inhibition of MMTV transcription in the 5555 cell line is merely an outcome of overexpression of an exogenous protein, we used siRNA-mediated gene silencing to knock down endogenous BRG1 in the MMTV array–containing cell line (3134). The absence of nuclear BRG1 immunostaining in cells transfected with a pool of siRNAs designed against BRG1 (Figure 3P) validated the effectiveness of these siRNAs. 3134 cells transfected with siRNAs specific to BRG1 show MMTV RNA FISH signals that were smaller in size and intensity to cells transfected with a scrambled control siRNA (Figure 3, O and P). Quantitation of RNA FISH signal intensities obtained from each transfected group of 3134 cells showed an 84% decrease in the level of MMTV transcription in BRG1 depleted cells (Figure 3Q). ANOVA analysis of the RNA FISH data demonstrated a statistically significant difference between BRG1 siRNA-treated cells and scrambled siRNA -transfected cells (p < 10–8). Interestingly, transcriptional inhibition generated by siRNA-mediated silencing of endogenous BRG1 expression was very similar to the transcriptional inhibition obtained by either the stable or transient expression of dominant negative BRG1 (Figure 3, I, N, and Q). We conclude that interfering with the function of endogenous BRG1 either by the expression of a dominant negative form of BRG1 or by the siRNA-mediated depletion of endogenous BRG1 dramatically compromises transcription from the MMTV promoter.
BRG1 Is Required for the Hormone-dependent Remodeling of MMTV Chromatin and Loading of RNA pol II to the MMTV Promoter
The data presented in Figures 1
–3 demonstrate the hormone-dependent recruitment of BRG1 to the MMTV array and the involvement of BRG1 mediated chromatin remodeling in the transcriptional activation of the MMTV promoter. Data from our lab and others have demonstrated that activation of the MMTV promoter by hormone, results in the binding of GR to hormone response elements (GREs) within the nucleosome B-C region of the MMTV promoter (Fragoso et al., 1998
; Fryer and Archer, 1998
; Fletcher et al., 2002
). In the presence of hormone, this region becomes more accessible to a variety of chemical and enzymatic nucleases, the hallmark of a chromatin-remodeling event. We and others have used the restriction endonuclease, SacI, which cuts within the nucleosome B-C region, as a measure of this chromatin transition (Fragoso et al., 1998
; Fryer and Archer, 1998
; Fletcher et al., 2002
). We compared the extent of SacI cleavage in 3617 mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cells (which stably expresses GFP-GR in a tetracycline-repressible system; Walker et al., 1999
) with SacI cleavage in the 5555 cell line (generated by stable transfection of 3617 cells with a Flag-tagged BRG1-K-R under the control of the same tetracycline regulator). Both 3617 and 5555 cells express endogenous GR and BRG1. 3617 cells grown in the presence of tetracycline (no expression of exogenous GR) showed an increase in fractional cleavage of 9% at the SacI site, in response to hormone (Figure 4, A and B). Chromatin remodeling in 3617 cells was further increased to 20% in response to hormone when cells were grown in the absence of tetracycline. This increase in cutting most likely reflects the contribution of the additional GR that is expressed in the absence of tetracycline. The additional GR can recruit more BRG1 or BRM to the MMTV array, which in turn can make chromatin even further accessible. The extent of SacI cutting in the presence of tetracycline was similar in both the 3617 and 5555 cell lines (Figure 4, A and B). However, when 5555 cells were grown in the absence of tetracycline, under conditions that induce the expression of BRG1-K-R (and GR), the extent of SacI cutting was diminished to 6%; in contrast to a fractional cleavage of 20% observed in 3617 cells under similar conditions. These results suggest that effective remodeling of MMTV chromatin requires BRG1 with a functional ATPase domain.
|
Large-Scale Chromatin Decondensation and Condensation Are Regulated by BRG1 and BRM Chromatin-remodeling Complexes
Results obtained from chromatin accessibility experiments (Figure 4) provide limited information on the nature of chromatin remodeling in vivo. We assessed the impact of chromatin-remodeling complexes on the large-scale MMTV chromatin structure and topology in 3134 cells. 3134 cells contain a 2-Mb stably integrated array containing 200 copies of the MMTV-LTR. Combining DNA FISH and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, Mueller et al. (2001)
observed that hormone treatment resulted in an increase of the size of the array, suggesting that the array decondenses concomitant with transcriptional activation. To address the contribution of remodeling proteins in array decondensation, 3134 cells were transfected with BRG1, BRG1-K-R, BRM, or BRM-K-R, treated with dexamethasone, and processed for DNA FISH analysis combined with indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. As previously observed, in BRG1- or BRM-transfected cells, a decondensation of the array was detected in response to hormone (Figure 5, B and D; Mueller et al., 2001
). In contrast, in BRG1-K-R–transfected cells we detected a relative decrease in the size of large arrays even in the presence of hormone, suggesting that the inability to remodel chromatin resulted in a less pronounced decondensation event (cf. Figure 5, C to B). A similar decrease in the size of large arrays was also detected in BRM-K-R–transfected cells, although it was far less in magnitude in comparison to BRG1-K-R (cf. Figure 5, E to D). The effect on the size of the MMTV array was specific to cells transfected with the various remodelers, because in the neighboring untransfected cells, robust and large DNA FISH signals were observed (Figure 5, F–K). ANOVA analysis and Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc tests show that the BRG1-K-R– and BRM-K-R–transfected cells have a statistically significant reduction in the size of DNA FISH signals, whereas the wild-type BRG1-transfected cells do not vary from untransfected cells (p < 0.05). The size of the DNA FISH signals in BRG1-K-R–transfected cells also differs significantly from the DNA FISH signals in BRM-K-R–transfected cells. We conclude that the expression of dominant negative BRG1 or dominant negative BRM inhibits the hormone-induced, large-scale decondensation of the 2-Mb MMTV array. The effect of BRG1 on chromatin remodeling appears to be more pronounced than that of BRM. These findings provide a strong in vivo correlation between chromatin remodeling, chromatin decondensation, and transcription.
|
|
| DISCUSSION |
|---|
|
|
|---|
The 3134 (murine mammary adenocarcinoma) cell line contains 200 copies of the MMTV-LTR array stably integrated in a head-to-tail orientation at a single integration event near the centromere of chromosome 4 (Kramer et al., 1999
). The hormone responsiveness of the MMTV array is identical to that of a single copy MMTV promoter, thereby making it a useful model system to directly visualize gene expression events such as the recruitment of chromatin-remodeling complexes and nuclear receptors to a target promoter in real time (Fragoso et al., 1998
; Fletcher et al., 2002
). Belmont and colleagues (Memedula and Belmont, 2003
) have used an amplified gene array based on the lac operator/repressor system to analyze the sequential recruitment of chromatin-remodeling complexes by the acidic activator VP16 to a condensed chromatin locus. Tsukamoto et al. (2000)
and Janicki et al. (2004)
have used a modified lac operator/repressor artificial array to demonstrate the recruitment of a lac repressor-VP16 chimera that resulted in chromatin decondensation. However in these studies, the contribution of chromatin-remodeling complexes on chromatin decondensation were not directly investigated. Here we extended these studies by observing the in vivo functional link between local chromatin remodeling, higher order chromatin reorganization, and transcriptional activation using various approaches including quantitative in vivo microscopy, chromatin accessibility, and decondensation assays as well as photobleaching approaches. Importantly, we have determined for the first time that BRG1 and BRM chromatin-remodeling complexes have distinct kinetic properties on the MMTV array, and they dynamically associate with and dissociate from MMTV chromatin in a manner dependent on hormone and a functional ATPase domain.
Three subclasses of ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complexes have been identified in mammalian cells: SWI/SNF, ISWI, and Mi-2/CHD (Narlikar et al., 2002
). We find that the members of the SWI/SNF remodeling complex, BRG1 and BRM, are preferentially recruited to the MMTV promoter in a hormone-dependent manner. Under the same experimental conditions, we failed to detect any enrichment of the ISWI (Snf2h) chromatin-remodeling complex at the MMTV array (Figure 2). Although, we cannot define the molecular basis of this specificity, the subunit composition of individual chromatin-remodeling complexes is likely a contributory factor (Hsiao et al., 2003
). We have confirmed the contribution of BRG1 and BRM ATPases in the transcriptional activation of the MMTV promoter by biochemical and imaging approaches in well defined genetic backgrounds. Using SW13 cells that are deficient in BRG1, BRM, and GR expression, we find that both BRG1 and BRM potentiated transcription by GR on a transiently introduced MMTV reporter template (Figure 1). Furthermore, transactivation required a functional BRG1, BRM, and ATP hydrolysis because the ATPase-deficient forms of BRG1 and BRM failed to stimulate transcription under similar conditions. The introduction of ATPase-deficient remodeling complexes can also dramatically compromise transcription from the stably integrated MMTV repeat (Figure 3). We have further confirmed our observations by siRNA-mediated silencing of endogenous BRG1 expression (Figure 3). At this point, we are unable to ascertain if BRG1 and BRM make distinct contributions to MMTV activation. BRG1 and BRM may have unique functions in the transcriptional process; alternatively, GR might be able recruit either BRG1 or BRM via shared BAFs. The use of cell lines lacking BRG1 or BRM might provide some insight into the complex(es) that contributes to MMTV activation.
ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complexes and histone-modifying complexes dynamically modulate chromatin structure both at the nucleosome as well as at a higher order level (Vignali et al., 2000
; Jenuwein and Allis, 2001
). We explored the consequences of ATPase-deficient remodeling proteins on chromatin structure by using a restriction enzyme accessibility assay to assess the disruption of local chromatin structure. Our studies demonstrated the expected hormone-dependent increase in restriction enzyme cutting in control cells (from 9 to 20%) compared with an inhibition of this hormone-dependent increase in endonuclease cutting in cells expressing the dominant negative form of BRG1 (Figure 4). Interestingly, our ChIP analysis showed that this reduction in chromatin remodeling in cells expressing BRG1-K-R was accompanied by a reduction RNA pol II loading and transcription. These experiments provide data that implicate chromatin remodeling by BRG1 as a necessary prerequisite for optimal transcription of the MMTV promoter.
We have also used quantitative DNA FISH analysis in conjunction with indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, to examine higher order chromatin reorganization events in vivo. We observed a large-scale chromatin decondensation, of the MMTV array, in response to hormone when wild-type BRG1 and BRM is expressed, as has been previously described (Mueller et al., 2001
). When BRG1-K-R or BRM-K-R was expressed, the hormone-dependent decondensation events were inhibited significantly by BRG1-K-R and less so by BRM-K-R, in keeping with the differential transcriptional effects of these remodeling-deficient proteins (Figure 5). These findings suggest that chromatin remodeling mediated by BRG1 and BRM ATPases can lead to higher-order chromatin unfolding and reorganization and this, in turn, correlates well with increased transcription from the MMTV array.
The dynamics of BRG1 and BRM chromatin-remodeling complexes at a specific promoter and the modulation of their kinetic properties in response to environmental stimuli have never been demonstrated in native chromatin in living cells. In our study, we found that BRG1, BRM, and BRG1-K-R dynamically exchange at the MMTV promoter with distinct kinetic properties in a manner dependent on hormone and a functional ATPase domain. The dynamic exchange of remodeling proteins on the MMTV array are consistent with our in vitro results obtained from rapid UV laser cross-linking where purified SWI/SNF binds to and is displaced from purified MMTV chromatin (Fletcher et al., 2002
; Nagaich et al., 2004
). Because the FRAP recovery kinetics of chromatin proteins are directly related to their chromatin-binding properties (Lefebvre et al., 1991
; Fragoso et al., 1998
; Lever et al., 2000
; Kimura and Cook, 2001
; Hager et al., 2002
; Kimura et al., 2002
; Maruvada et al., 2003
; Phair et al., 2004
; Becker et al., 2005
; Chen et al., 2005
), we conclude that the remodeling proteins with the slowest exchange rate reside longest on the MMTV promoter and associate most strongly with MMTV chromatin. A comparison of the kinetic properties of chromatin-remodeling complexes revealed that BRG1 was more strongly associated with the MMTV array than BRM (Figure 6D). Interestingly, the remodeler with the slowest exchange rate is the dominant negative BRG1 (BRG1-K-R). Molecular chaperones have been demonstrated to regulate the dynamic properties of GR and PR in the nucleus and recently the high mobility group box 1 protein, HMGB1 has been found to influence the residence time of GR in chromatin (Stavreva et al., 2004
; Wagner et al., 2004
; Elbi et al., 2004a
,b
; Agresti et al., 2005
). Considering that the dominant negative BRG1 (BRG1-K-R) is simply a single amino acid change in the ATPase domain, our study reveals the importance of ATP hydrolysis in the dynamic properties of BRG1 and BRM. Further studies will be necessary for a complete understanding of the regulation of chromatin protein dynamics and its role in gene expression.
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
|---|
| Footnotes |
|---|
These authors contributed equally to this work. ![]()
Present address: Merck Research Laboratories, Boston, MA 02115. ![]()
Address correspondence to: Sam John (sam{at}mail.nih.gov)
| REFERENCES |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Arents, G., Burlingame, R. W., Wang, B. C., Love, W. E., and Moudrianakis, E. N. (1991). The nucleosomal core histone octamer at 3.1 A resolution: a tripartite protein assembly and a left-handed superhelix. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 10148–10152.
Becker, M., Baumann, C. T., John, S., Walker, D., Vigneron, M., McNally, J. G., and Hager, G. L. (2002). Dynamic behavior of transcription factors on a natural promoter in living cells. EMBO Rep 3, 1188–1194.[CrossRef][Medline]
Becker, M., Becker, A., Miyara, F., Han, Z., Kihara, M., Brown, D. T., Hager, G. L., Latham, K., Adashi, E. Y., and Misteli, T. (2005). Differential in vivo binding dynamics of somatic and oocyte-specific linker histones in oocytes and during ES cell nuclear transfer. Mol. Biol. Cell 16, 3887–3895.
Belandia, B., and Parker, M. G. (2003). Nuclear receptors: a rendezvous for chromatin remodeling factors. Cell 114, 277–280.[CrossRef][Medline]
Berger, S. L. (2002). Histone modifications in transcriptional regulation. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev 12, 142–148.[CrossRef][Medline]
Bianchi, M. E., and Agresti, A. (2005). HMG proteins: dynamic players in gene regulation and differentiation. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev 15, 496–506.[CrossRef][Medline]
Biegel, J. A., Zhou, J. Y., Rorke, L. B., Stenstrom, C., Wainwright, L. M., and Fogelgren, B. (1999). Germ-line and acquired mutations of INI1 in atypical teratoid and rhabdoid tumors. Cancer Res 59, 74–79.
Bresnick, E. H., John, S., Berard, D. S., Lefebvre, P., and Hager, G. L. (1990). Glucocorticoid receptor-dependent disruption of a specific nucleosome on the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter is prevented by sodium butyrate. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 3977–3981.
Bustin, M. (1999). Regulation of DNA-dependent activities by the functional motifs of the high-mobility-group chromosomal proteins. Mol. Cell Biol 19, 5237–5246.
Bustin, M., Catez, F., and Lim, J. H. (2005). The dynamics of histone H1 function in chromatin. Mol. Cell 17, 617–620.[CrossRef][Medline]
Carroll, J. S., and Brown, M. (2006). Estrogen receptor target gene: an evolving concept. Mol. Endocrinol 20, 1707–1714.
Chen, D., Dundr, M., Wang, C., Leung, A., Lamond, A., Misteli, T., and Huang, S. (2005). Condensed mitotic chromatin is accessible to transcription factors and chromatin structural proteins. J. Cell Biol 168, 41–54.
Cho, K. S., Elizondo, L. I., and Boerkoel, C. F. (2004). Advances in chromatin remodeling and human disease. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev 14, 308–315.[CrossRef][Medline]
Cordingley, M. G., Riegel, A. T., and Hager, G. L. (1987). Steroid-dependent interaction of transcription factors with the inducible promoter of mouse mammary tumor virus in vivo. Cell 48, 261–270.[CrossRef][Medline]
de la Serna, I. L., Carlson, K. A., Hill, D. A., Guidi, C. J., Stephenson, R. O., Sif, S., Kingston, R. E., and Imbalzano, A. N. (2000). Mammalian SWI-SNF complexes contribute to activation of the hsp70 gene. Mol. Cell. Biol 20, 2839–2851.
de la Serna, I. L., Carlson, K. A., and Imbalzano, A. N. (2001). Mammalian SWI/SNF complexes promote MyoD-mediated muscle differentiation. Nat. Genet 27, 187–190.[CrossRef][Medline]
Dilworth, F. J., and Chambon, P. (2001). Nuclear receptors coordinate the activities of chromatin remodeling complexes and coactivators to facilitate initiation of transcription. Oncogene 20, 3047–3054.[CrossRef][Medline]
Eissenberg, J. C., and Elgin, S. C. (2000). The HP1 protein family: getting a grip on chromatin. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev 10, 204–210.[CrossRef][Medline]
Elbi, C., Walker, D. A., Lewis, M., Romero, G., Sullivan, W. P., Toft, D. O., Hager, G. L., and DeFranco, D. B. (2004a). A novel in situ assay for the identification and characterization of soluble nuclear mobility factors. Science STKE 2004, PL10.
Elbi, C., Walker, D. A., Romero, G., Sullivan, W. P., Toft, D. O., Hager, G. L., and DeFranco, D. B. (2004b). Molecular chaperones function as steroid receptor nuclear mobility factors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 2876–2881.
Elbi, C., Misteli, T., and Hager, G. L. (2002). Recruitment of the Dioxin Receptor to Active Transcription Sites. Mol. Biol. Cell 13, 2001–2015.
Elgin, S. C., and Workman, J. L. (2002). Chromosome and expression mechanisms: a year dominated by histone modifications, transitory and remembered. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev 12, 127–129.[CrossRef][Medline]
Farla, P., Hersmus, R., Trapman, J., and Houtsmuller, A. B. (2005). Antiandrogens prevent stable DNA-binding of the androgen receptor. J. Cell Sci 118, 4187–4198.
Felsenfeld, G., and Groudine, M. (2003). Controlling the double helix. Nature 421, 448–453.[CrossRef][Medline]
Fletcher, T. M., and Hansen, J. C. (1996). The nucleosomal array: structure/function relationships. Crit. Rev. Eukaryot. Gene Expr 6, 149–188.[Medline]
Fletcher, T. M., Xiao, N., Mautino, G., Baumann, C. T., Wolford, R. G., Warren, B. S., and Hager, G. L. (2002). ATP-dependent mobilization of the glucocorticoid receptor during chromatin remodeling. Mol. Cell. Biol 22, 3255–3263.
Fragoso, G., Pennie, W. D., John, S., and Hager, G. L. (1998). The position and length of the steroid-dependent hypersensitive region in the mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat are invariant despite multiple nucleosome B frames. Mol. Cell Biol 18, 3633–3644.
Fryer, C. J., and Archer, T. K. (1998). Chromatin remodelling by the glucocorticoid receptor requires the BRG1 complex. Nature 393, 88–91.[CrossRef][Medline]
Fyodorov, D. V., and Kadonaga, J. T. (2001). The many faces of chromatin remodeling: SWItching beyond transcription. Cell 106, 523–525.[CrossRef][Medline]
Giangrande, P. H., Kimbrel, E. A., Edwards, D. P., and McDonnell, D. P. (2000). The opposing transcriptional activities of the two isoforms of the human progesterone receptor are due to differential cofactor binding. Mol. Cell. Biol 20, 3102–3115.
Gregory, R. I., and Shiekhattar, R. (2004). Chromatin modifiers and carcinogenesis. Trends Cell Biol 14, 695–702.[CrossRef][Medline]
Grewal, S. I., and Elgin, S. C. (2002). Heterochromatin: new possibilities for the inheritance of structure. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev 12, 178–187.[CrossRef][Medline]
Hager, G. L., Elbi, C., Johnson, T. A., Voss, T. C., Nagaich, A. K., Schiltz, R. L., Qiu, Y., and John, S. (2006). Chromatin dynamics and the evolution of alternate promoter states. Chromosome. Res 14, 107–116.[CrossRef][Medline]
Hager, G. L., Elbi, C. C., and Becker, M. (2002). Protein dynamics in the nuclear compartment. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev 12, 137–141.[CrossRef][Medline]
Hill, D. A. (2001). Influence of linker histone H1 on chromatin remodeling. Biochem. Cell Biol 79, 317–324.[CrossRef][Medline]
Hsiao, P. W., Fryer, C. J., Trotter, K. W., Wang, W., and Archer, T. K. (2003). BAF60a mediates critical interactions between nuclear receptors and the BRG1 chromatin-remodeling complex for transactivation. Mol. Cell Biol 23, 6210–6220.
Imbalzano, A. N., and Jones, S. N. (2005). Snf5 tumor suppressor couples chromatin remodeling, checkpoint control, and chromosomal stability. Cancer Cell 7, 294–295.[CrossRef][Medline]
Janicki, S. M. et al. (2004). From silencing to gene expression: real-time analysis in single cells. Cell 116, 683–698.[CrossRef][Medline]
Jenuwein, T., and Allis, C. D. (2001). Translating the histone code. Science 293, 1074–1080.
Jones, K. A., and Kadonaga, J. T. (2000). Exploring the transcription-chromatin interface. Genes Dev 14, 1992–1996.
Karpova, T. S., Chen, T. Y., Sprague, B. L., and McNally, J. G. (2004). Dynamic interactions of a transcription factor with DNA are accelerated by a chromatin remodeller. EMBO Rep 5, 1064–1070.[CrossRef][Medline]
Kimura, H., and Cook, P. R. (2001). Kinetics of core histones in living human cells: little exchange of H3 and H4 and some rapid exchange of H2B. J. Cell Biol 153, 1341–1353.
Kimura, H., Sugaya, K., and Cook, P. R. (2002). The transcription cycle of RNA polymerase II in living cells. J. Cell Biol 159, 777–782.
Klochendler-Yeivin, A., Muchardt, C., and Yaniv, M. (2002). SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling and cancer. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev 12, 73–79.[CrossRef][Medline]
Kramer, P., Fragoso, G., Pennie, W. D., Htun, H., Hager, G. L., and Sinden, R. R. (1999). Transcriptional state of the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter can effect topological domain size in vivo. J. Biol. Chem 274, 28590–28597.
Labrador, M., and Corces, V. G. (2002). Setting the boundaries of chromatin domains and nuclear organization. Cell 111, 151–154.[CrossRef][Medline]
Lee, D. Y., Northrop, J. P., Kuo, M. H., and Stallcup, M. R. (2006). Histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferase G9a is a transcriptional coactivator for nuclear receptors. J. Biol. Chem 281, 8476–8485.
Lefebvre, P., Berard, D. S., Cordingley, M. G., and Hager, G. L. (1991). Two regions of the mouse mammary tumor virus LTR regulate the activity of its promoter in mammary cell lines. Mol. Cell Biol 11, (5), 2529–2537.
Lemon, B., and Tjian, R. (2000). Orchestrated response: a symphony of transcription factors for gene control. Genes Dev 14, 2551–2569.
Lever, M. A., Th'ng, J. P., Sun, X., and Hendzel, M. J. (2000). Rapid exchange of histone H1.1 on chromatin in living human cells. Nature 408, 873–876.[CrossRef][Medline]
Luger, K., Mader, A. W., Richmond, R. K., Sargent, D. F., and Richmond, T. J. (1997). Crystal structure of the nucleosome core particle at 2.8 A resolution [see comments]. Nature 389, 251–260.[CrossRef][Medline]
Maniatis, T., and Reed, R. (2002). An extensive network of coupling among gene expression machines. Nature 416, 499–506.[CrossRef][Medline]
Maruvada, P., Baumann, C. T., Hager, G. L., and Yen, P. M. (2003). Dynamic shuttling and intranuclear mobility of nuclear hormone receptors. J. Biol. Chem 278, 12425–12432.
McKenna, N. J., and O'Malley, B. W. (2002). Combinatorial control of gene expression by nuclear receptors and coregulators. Cell 108, 465–474.[CrossRef][Medline]
McNally, J. G., Mueller, W. G., Walker, D., Wolford, R. G., and Hager, G. L. (2000). The glucocorticoid receptor: Rapid exchange with regulatory sites in living cells. Science 287, 1262–1265.
Memedula, S., and Belmont, A. S. (2003). Sequential recruitment of HAT and SWI/SNF components to condensed chromatin by VP16. Curr. Biol 13, 241–246.[CrossRef][Medline]
Metivier, R., Penot, G., Hubner, M. R., Reid, G., Brand, H., Kos, M., and Gannon, F. (2003). Estrogen receptor-alpha directs ordered, cyclical, and combinatorial recruitment of cofactors on a natural target promoter. Cell 115, 751–763.[CrossRef][Medline]
Muchardt, C., and Yaniv, M. (2001). When the SWI/SNF complex remodels the cell cycle. Oncogene 20, 3067–3075.[CrossRef][Medline]
Mueller, W. G., Walker, D., Hager, G. L., and McNally, J. G. (2001). Large scale chromatin decondensation and recondensation in living cells and the role of transcription. J. Cell Biol 154, 33–48.
Mulholland, N. M., Soeth, E., and Smith, C. L. (2003). Inhibition of MMTV transcription by HDAC inhibitors occurs independent of changes in chromatin remodeling and increased histone acetylation. Oncogene 22, 4807–4818.[CrossRef][Medline]
Nagaich, A. K., Walker, D. A., Wolford, R. G., and Hager, G. L. (2004). Rapid periodic binding and displacement of the glucocorticoid receptor during chromatin remodeling. Mol. Cell 14, 163–174.[CrossRef][Medline]
Narlikar, G. J., Fan, H. Y., and Kingston, R. E. (2002). Cooperation between complexes that regulate chromatin structure and transcription. Cell 108, 475–487.[CrossRef][Medline]
Neely, K. E., and Workman, J. L. (2002). Histone acetylation and chromatin remodeling: which comes first? Mol. Genet. Metab 76, 1–5.[CrossRef][Medline]
Orphanides, G., and Reinberg, D. (2002). A unified theory of gene expression. Cell 108, 439–451.[CrossRef][Medline]
Parada, L. F., Elbi, C. C., Dundr, M., and Misteli, T. (2003). Gene expression. In: Cell Function, Vol. 2, ed. J. Davey and M. Lord, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 47–77.
Peterson, C. L. (2002). Chromatin remodeling enzymes: taming the machines. Third in review series on chromatin dynamics. EMBO Rep 3, 319–322.[CrossRef][Medline]
Peterson, C. L., and Workman, J. L. (2000). Promoter targeting and chromatin remodeling by the SWI/SNF complex. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev 10, 187–192.[CrossRef][Medline]
Phair, R. D., Scaffidi, P., Elbi, C., Vecerova, J., Dey, A., Ozato, K., Brown, D. T., Hager, G. L., Bustin, M., and Misteli, T. (2004). Global nature of dynamic protein-chromatin interactions in vivo: three-dimensional genome scanning and dynamic interaction networks of chromatin proteins. Mol. Cell. Biol 24, 6393–6402.
Rayasam, G. V., Elbi, C., Walker, D. A., Wolford, R. G., Fletcher, T. M., Edwards, D. P., and Hager, G. L. (2005). Ligand specific dynamics of the progesterone receptor in living cells and during chromatin remodeling in vitro. Mol. Cell. Biol 25, 2406–2418.
Reyes, J. C., Muchardt, C., and Yaniv, M. (1997). Components of the human SWI/SNF complex are enriched in active chromatin and are associated with the nuclear matrix. J. Cell Biol 137, 263–274.
Roberts, C. W., and Orkin, S. H. (2004). The SWI/SNF complex–chromatin and cancer. Nat. Rev. Cancer 4, 133–142.[Medline]
Schaaf, M. J., and Cidlowski, J. A. (2003). Molecular determinants of glucocorticoid receptor mobility in living cells: the importance of ligand affinity. Mol. Cell. Biol 23, 1922–1934.
Sevenet, N., Sheridan, E., Amram, D., Schneider, P., Handgretinger, R., and Delattre, O. (1999). Constitutional mutations of the hSNF5/INI1 gene predispose to a variety of cancers. Am. J. Hum. Genet 65, 1342–1348.[CrossRef][Medline]
Shogren-Knaak, M., Ishii, H., Sun, J. M., Pazin, M. J., Davie, J. R., and Peterson, C. L. (2006). Histone H4–K16 acetylation controls chromatin structure and protein interactions. Science 311, 844–847.
Sif, S., Saurin, A. J., Imbalzano, A. N., and Kingston, R. E. (2001). Purification and characterization of mSin3A-containing Brg1 and hBrm chromatin remodeling complexes. Genes Dev 15, 603–618.
Stavreva, D. A., Muller, W. G., Hager, G. L., Smith, C. L., and McNally, J. G. (2004). Rapid glucocorticoid receptor exchange at a promoter is coupled to transcription and regulated by chaperones and proteasomes. Mol. Cell. Biol 24, 2682–2697.
Stenoien, D. L., Nye, A. C., Mancini, M. G., Patel, K., Dutertre, M., O'Malley, B. W., Smith, C. L., Belmont, A. S., and Mancini, M. A. (2001). Ligand-mediated assembly and real-time cellular dynamics of estrogen receptor alpha-coactivator complexes in living cells. Mol. Cell. Biol 21, 4404–4412.
Strahl, B. D., and Allis, C. D. (2000). The language of covalent histone modifications. Nature 403, 41–45.[CrossRef][Medline]
Thomas, J. O., and Travers, A. A. (2001). HMG1 and 2, and related architectural DNA-binding proteins. Trends Biochem. Sci 26, 167–174.[CrossRef][Medline]
Tsukamoto, T., Hashiguchi, N., Janicki, S. M., Tumbar, T., Belmont, A. S., and Spector, D. L. (2000). Visualization of gene activity in living cells. Nat. Cell Biol 2, 871–878.[CrossRef][Medline]
Verschure, P. J., van, d. K., I, de, L. W., van, d., V, Carpenter, A. E., Belmont, A. S., and van Driel, R. (2005). In vivo HP1 targeting causes large-scale chromatin condensation and enhanced histone lysine methylation. Mol. Cell Biol 25, 4552–4564.
Versteege, I., Sevenet, N., Lange, J., Rousseau-Merck, M. F., Ambros, P., Handgretinger, R., Aurias, A., and Delattre, O. (1998). Truncating mutations of hSNF5/INI1 in aggressive pediatric cancer. Nature 394, 203–206.[CrossRef][Medline]
Vignali, M., Hassan, A. H., Neely, K. E., and Workman, J. L. (2000). ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complexes. Mol. Cell Biol 20, 1899–1910.
Wagner, S., Chiosea, S., Ivshina, M., and Nickerson, J. A. (2004). In vitro FRAP reveals the ATP-dependent nuclear mobilization of the exon junction complex protein SRm160. J. Cell Biol 164, 843–850.
Walker, D., Htun, H., and Hager, G. L. (1999). Using inducible vectors to study intracellular trafficking of GFP-tagged steroid/nuclear receptors in living cells. Methods 19, 386–393.[CrossRef][Medline]
Wolffe, A. P., and Hansen, J. C. (2001). Nuclear visions: functional flexibility from structural instability. Cell 104, 631–634.[Medline]
Woodcock, C. L., and Dimitrov, S. (2001). Higher-order structure of chromatin and chromosomes. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev 11, 130–135.[CrossRef][Medline]
Workman, J. L., and Kingston, R. E. (1998). Alteration of nucleosome structure as a mechanism of transcriptional regulation. Annu. Rev. Biochem 67, 545–579.[CrossRef][Medline]
Wu, J., and Grunstein, M. (2000). 25 years after the nucleosome model: chromatin modifications. Trends Biochem. Sci 25, 619–623.[CrossRef][Medline]
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
O. Hakim, S. John, J. Q. Ling, S. C. Biddie, A. R. Hoffman, and G. L. Hager Glucocorticoid Receptor Activation of the Ciz1-Lcn2 Locus by Long Range Interactions J. Biol. Chem., March 6, 2009; 284(10): 6048 - 6052. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||