title: Histone H2A C-terminus regulates chromatin dynamics, remodeling, and histone H1 binding.
abstract: The tails of histone proteins are central players for all chromatin-mediated processes. Whereas the N-terminal histone tails have been studied extensively, little is known about the function of the H2A C-terminus. Here, we show that the H2A C-terminal tail plays a pivotal role in regulating chromatin structure and dynamics. We find that cells expressing C-terminally truncated H2A show increased stress sensitivity. Moreover, both the complete and the partial deletion of the tail result in increased histone exchange kinetics and nucleosome mobility in vivo and in vitro. Importantly, our experiments reveal that the H2A C-terminus is required for efficient nucleosome translocation by ISWI-type chromatin remodelers and acts as a novel recognition module for linker histone H1. Thus, we suggest that the H2A C-terminal tail has a bipartite function: stabilisation of the nucleosomal core particle, as well as mediation of the protein interactions that control chromatin dynamics and conformation.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute of Immunobiology, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vogler
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Waldmann
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ettig
authors.forename: Lora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daujat
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chassignet
authors.forename: Andres Joaquin
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lopez-Contreras
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Capetillo
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dundr
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rippe
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Längst
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D002460:Cell Line; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D009707:Nucleosomes