A Barcode Screen for Epigenetic Regulators Reveals a Role for the NuB4/HAT-B Histone Acetyltransferase Complex in Histone Turnover

Dynamic modification of histone proteins plays a key role in regulating gene expression. However, histones themselves can also be dynamic, which potentially affects the stability of histone modifications. To determine the molecular mechanisms of histone turnover, we developed a parallel screening method for epigenetic regulators by analyzing chromatin states on DNA barcodes. Histone turnover was quantified by employing a genetic pulse-chase technique called RITE, which was combined with chromatin immunoprecipitation and high-throughput sequencing. In this screen, the NuB4/HAT-B complex, containing the conserved type B histone acetyltransferase Hat1, was found to promote histone turnover. Unexpectedly, the three members of this complex could be functionally separated from each other as well as from the known interacting factor and histone chaperone Asf1. Thus, systematic and direct interrogation of chromatin structure on DNA barcodes can lead to the discovery of genes and pathways involved in chromatin modification and dynamics

Mechanisms Underlying Acrolein-Mediated Inhibition of Chromatin Assembly

Acrolein is a major component of cigarette smoke and cooking fumes. Previously, we reported that acrolein compromises chromatin assembly; however, underlying mechanisms have not been defined. Here, we report that acrolein reacts with lysine residues, including lysines 5 and 12, sites important for chromatin assembly, on histone H4 in vitro and in vivo. Acrolein-modified histones are resistant to acetylation, suggesting that the reduced H4K12 acetylation that occurs following acrolein exposure is probably due to the formation of acrolein-histone lysine adducts. Accordingly, the association of H3/H4 with the histone chaperone ASF1 and importin 4 is disrupted and the translocation of green fluorescent protein-tagged H3 is inhibited in cells exposed to acrolein. Interestingly, in vitro plasmid supercoiling assays revealed that treatment of either histones or ASF1 with acrolein has no effect on the formation of plasmid supercoiling, indicating that acrolein-protein adduct formation itself does not directly interfere with nucleosome assembly. Notably, exposure of histones to acrolein prior to histone acetylation leads to the inhibition of remodeling and spacing factor chromatin assembly, which requires acetylated histones for efficient assembly. These results suggest that acrolein compromises chromatin assembly by reacting with histone lysine residues at the sites critical for chromatin assembly and prevents these sites from physiological modifications

The Candida albicans Histone Acetyltransferase Hat1 Regulates Stress Resistance and Virulence via Distinct Chromatin Assembly Pathways

Human fungal pathogens like Candida albicans respond to host immune surveillance by rapidly adapting their transcriptional programs. Chromatin assembly factors are involved in the regulation of stress genes by modulating the histone density at these loci. Here, we report a novel role for the chromatin assembly-associated histone acetyltransferase complex NuB4 in regulating oxidative stress resistance, antifungal drug tolerance and virulence in C. albicans. Strikingly, depletion of the NuB4 catalytic subunit, the histone acetyltransferase Hat1, markedly increases resistance to oxidative stress and tolerance to azole antifungals. Hydrogen peroxide resistance in cells lacking Hat1 results from higher induction rates of oxidative stress gene expression, accompanied by reduced histone density as well as subsequent increased RNA polymerase recruitment. Furthermore, hat1Delta/Delta cells, despite showing growth defects in vitro, display reduced susceptibility to reactive oxygen-mediated killing by innate immune cells. Thus, clearance from infected mice is delayed although cells lacking Hat1 are severely compromised in killing the host. Interestingly, increased oxidative stress resistance and azole tolerance are phenocopied by the loss of histone chaperone complexes CAF-1 and HIR, respectively, suggesting a central role for NuB4 in the delivery of histones destined for chromatin assembly via distinct pathways. Remarkably, the oxidative stress phenotype of hat1Delta/Delta cells is a species-specific trait only found in C. albicans and members of the CTG clade. The reduced azole susceptibility appears to be conserved in a wider range of fungi. Thus, our work demonstrates how highly conserved chromatin assembly pathways can acquire new functions in pathogenic fungi during coevolution with the host