Linker histone variant H1T targets rDNA repeats

<p>H1T is a linker histone H1 variant that is highly expressed at the primary spermatocyte stage through to the early spermatid stage of spermatogenesis. While the functions of the somatic types of H1 have been extensively investigated, the intracellular role of H1T is unclear. H1 variants specifically expressed in germ cells show low amino acid sequence homology to somatic H1s, which suggests that the functions or target loci of germ cell-specific H1T differ from those of somatic H1s. Here, we describe the target loci and function of H1T. H1T was expressed not only in the testis but also in tumor cell lines, mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), and some normal somatic cells. To elucidate the intracellular localization and target loci of H1T, fluorescent immunostaining and ChIP-seq were performed in tumor cells and mESCs. We found that H1T accumulated in nucleoli and predominantly targeted rDNA repeats, which differ from somatic H1 targets. Furthermore, by nuclease sensitivity assay and RT-qPCR, we showed that H1T repressed rDNA transcription by condensing chromatin structure. Imaging analysis indicated that H1T expression affected nucleolar formation. We concluded that H1T plays a role in rDNA transcription, by distinctively targeting rDNA repeats.</p

MOESM1 of H2A O-GlcNAcylation at serine 40 functions genomic protection in association with acetylated H2AZ or ÎłH2AX

Additional file 1: Figure S1-S3 and Table S1-S2

Reactivation of hyperglycemia-induced hypocretin (<i>HCRT)</i> gene silencing by <i>N</i>-acetyl-d-mannosamine in the orexin neurons derived from human iPS cells

<p>Orexin neurons regulate critical brain activities for controlling sleep, eating, emotions, and metabolism, and impaired orexin neuron function results in several neurologic disorders. Therefore, restoring normal orexin function and understanding the mechanisms of loss or impairment of orexin neurons represent important goals. As a step toward that end, we generated human orexin neurons from induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) by treatment with <i>N</i>-acetyl-d-mannosamine (ManNAc) and its derivatives. The generation of orexin neurons was associated with DNA hypomethylation, histone H3/H4 hyperacetylation, and hypo-<i>O</i>-GlcNAcylation on the <i>HCRT</i> gene locus, and, thereby, the treatment of inhibitors of SIRT1 and OGT were effective at inducing orexin neurons from hiPSCs. The prolonged exposure of orexin neurons to high glucose in culture caused irreversible silencing of the <i>HCRT</i> gene, which was characterized by H3/H4 hypoacetylation and hyper-<i>O</i>-GlcNAcylation. The DNA hypomethylation status, once established in orexin neurogenesis, was maintained in the <i>HCRT</i>-silenced orexin neurons, indicating that histone modifications, but not DNA methylation, were responsible for the <i>HCRT</i> silencing. Thus, the epigenetic status of the <i>HCRT</i> gene is unique to the hyperglycemia-induced silencing. Intriguingly, treatment of ManNAc and its derivatives reactivated <i>HCRT</i> gene expression, while inhibitors SIRT1 and the OGT did not. The present study revealed that the <i>HCRT</i> gene was silenced by the hyperglycemia condition, and ManNAc and its derivatives were useful for restoring the orexin neurons.</p