The family of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) isoforms is essential for chromatin packaging, regulation of gene expression, and repair of damaged DNA. Here we document that γ-radiation reduced the number of HP1α-positive foci, but not HP1β and HP1γ foci, located in the vicinity of the fibrillarin-positive region of the nucleolus. The additional analysis confirmed that γ-radiation has the ability to significantly decrease the level of HP1α in rDNA promoter and rDNA encoding 28S rRNA. By mass spectrometry, we showed that treatment by γ-rays enhanced the HP1β serine 88 phosphorylation (S88ph), but other analyzed modifications of HP1β, including S161ph/Y163ph, S171ph, and S174ph, were not changed in cells exposed to γ-rays or treated by the HDAC inhibitor (HDACi). Interestingly, a combination of HDACi and γ-radiation increased the level of HP1α and HP1γ. The level of HP1β remained identical before and after the HDACi/γ-rays treatment, but HDACi strengthened HP1β interaction with the KRAB-associated protein 1 (KAP1) protein. Conversely, HP1γ did not interact with KAP1, although approximately 40% of HP1γ foci co-localized with accumulated KAP1. Especially HP1γ foci at the periphery of nucleoli were mostly absent of KAP1. Together, DNA damage changed the morphology, levels, and interaction properties of HP1 isoforms. Also, γ-irradiation-induced hyperphosphorylation of the HP1β protein; thus, HP1β-S88ph could be considered as an important marker of DNA damage.

• Klíčová slova
• FLIM-FRET, HP1, epigenetics, irradiation, mass spectrometry, nucleolus, phosphorylation,
• MeSH
• buněčné jadérko metabolismus   MeSH
• chromozomální proteiny, nehistonové metabolismus   MeSH
• fosforylace MeSH
• HeLa buňky MeSH
• homolog proteinu s chromoboxem 5 MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové buňky kultivované MeSH
• optické zobrazování MeSH
• poškození DNA MeSH
• rezonanční přenos fluorescenční energie MeSH
• serin metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• CBX1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• CBX5 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• chromozomální proteiny, nehistonové MeSH
• homolog proteinu s chromoboxem 5 MeSH
• serin MeSH

DNA damage response (DDR) in ribosomal genes and mechanisms of DNA repair in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are less explored nuclear events. DDR in ESCs should be unique due to their high proliferation rate, expression of pluripotency factors, and specific chromatin signature. Given short population doubling time and fast progress through G1 phase, ESCs require a sustained production of rRNA, which leads to the formation of large and prominent nucleoli. Although transcription of rRNA in the nucleolus is relatively well understood, little is known about DDR in this nuclear compartment. Here, we directed formation of double-strand breaks in rRNA genes with I- PpoI endonuclease, and we studied nucleolar morphology, DDR, and chromatin modifications. We observed a pronounced formation of I- PpoI-induced nucleolar caps, positive on BRCA1, NBS1, MDC1, γH2AX, and UBF1 proteins. We showed interaction of nucleolar protein TCOF1 with HDAC1 and TCOF1 with CARM1 after DNA injury. Moreover, H3R17me2a modification mediated by CARM1 was found in I- PpoI-induced nucleolar caps. Finally, we report that heterochromatin protein 1 is not involved in DNA repair of nucleolar caps.

• Klíčová slova
• CARM1, DNA repair, HDAC1, NBS1, PpoI, chromatin, nucleolus,
• MeSH
• acetylace MeSH
• arginin metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčné jadérko genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• dvouřetězcové zlomy DNA * MeSH
• embryonální kmenové buňky metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• fosfoproteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• geny rRNA MeSH
• histondeacetylasa 1 metabolismus   MeSH
• histony metabolismus   MeSH
• intracelulární signální peptidy a proteiny MeSH
• jaderné proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• metylace MeSH
• myši MeSH
• oprava DNA MeSH
• proteinarginin-N-methyltransferasy metabolismus   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• arginin MeSH
• coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 MeSH Prohlížeč
• fosfoproteiny MeSH
• Hdac1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• histondeacetylasa 1 MeSH
• histony MeSH
• intracelulární signální peptidy a proteiny MeSH
• jaderné proteiny MeSH
• proteinarginin-N-methyltransferasy MeSH
• RNA ribozomální MeSH
• Tcof1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč

Nucleoli are formed on the basis of ribosomal genes coding for RNAs of ribosomal particles, but also include a great variety of other DNA regions. In this article, we discuss the characteristics of ribosomal DNA: the structure of the rDNA locus, complex organization and functions of the intergenic spacer, multiplicity of gene copies in one cell, selective silencing of genes and whole gene clusters, relation to components of nucleolar ultrastructure, specific problems associated with replication. We also review current data on the role of non-ribosomal DNA in the organization and function of nucleoli. Finally, we discuss probable causes preventing efficient visualization of DNA in nucleoli.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA staining, NADs, Nucleolus, Replication, Transcription activity, rDNA,
• MeSH
• buněčné jadérko genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ribozomální DNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• ribozomální DNA MeSH

We studied the histone signature of embryonic and adult brains to strengthen existing evidence of the importance of the histone code in mouse brain development. We analyzed the levels and distribution patterns of H3K9me1, H3K9me2, H3K9me3, and HP1β in both embryonic and adult brains. Western blotting showed that during mouse brain development, the levels of H3K9me1, H3K9me2, and HP1β exhibited almost identical trends, with the highest protein levels occurring at E15 stage. These trends differed from the relatively stable level of H3K9me3 at developmental stages E8, E13, E15, and E18. Compared with embryonic brains, adult brains were characterized by very low levels of H3K9me1/me2/me3 and HP1β. Manipulation of the embryonic epigenome through histone deacetylase inhibitor treatment did not affect the distribution patterns of the studied histone markers in embryonic ventricular ependyma. Similarly, Hdac3 depletion in adult animals had no effect on histone methylation in the adult hippocampus. Our results indicate that the distribution of HP1β in the embryonic mouse brain is related to that of H3K9me1/me2 but not to that of H3K9me3. The unique status of H3K9me3 in the brain was confirmed by its pronounced accumulation in the granular layer of the adult olfactory bulb. Moreover, among the studied proteins, H3K9me3 was the only posttranslational histone modification that was highly abundant at clusters of centromeric heterochromatin, called chromocenters. When we focused on the hippocampus, we found this region to be rich in H3K9me1 and H3K9me3, whereas H3K9me2 and HP1β were present at a very low level or even absent in the hippocampal blade. Taken together, these results revealed differences in the epigenome of the embryonic and adult mouse brain and showed that the adult hippocampus, the granular layer of the adult olfactory bulb, and the ventricular ependyma of the embryonic brain are colonized by specific epigenetic marks.

• Klíčová slova
• Brain sections, Epigenetics, Hippocampus, Histone methylation, Histones, Olfactory bulb,
• MeSH
• chromozomální proteiny, nehistonové analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• fluorescenční mikroskopie MeSH
• histonlysin-N-methyltransferasa metabolismus   MeSH
• imunohistochemie MeSH
• mozek embryologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• myši knockoutované MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• Cbx1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• chromozomální proteiny, nehistonové MeSH
• histonlysin-N-methyltransferasa MeSH

The nucleolus is a well-organized site of ribosomal gene transcription. Moreover, many DNA repair pathway proteins, including ATM, ATR kinases, MRE11, PARP1 and Ku70/80, localize to the nucleolus (Moore et al., 2011 ). We analyzed the consequences of DNA damage in nucleoli following ultraviolet A (UVA), C (UVC), or γ-irradiation in order to test whether and how radiation-mediated genome injury affects local motion and morphology of nucleoli. Because exposure to radiation sources can induce changes in the pattern of UBF1-positive nucleolar regions, we visualized nucleoli in living cells by GFP-UBF1 expression for subsequent morphological analyses and local motion studies. UVA radiation, but not 5 Gy of γ-rays, induced apoptosis as analyzed by an advanced computational method. In non-apoptotic cells, we observed that γ-radiation caused nucleolar re-positioning over time and changed several morphological parameters, including the size of the nucleolus and the area of individual UBF1-positive foci. Radiation-induced nucleoli re-arrangement was observed particularly in G2 phase of the cell cycle, indicating repair of ribosomal genes in G2 phase and implying that nucleoli are less stable, thus sensitive to radiation, in G2 phase.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA damage, UBF1, live cells, nucleolus, nuncleoli tracking,
• MeSH
• apoptóza účinky záření   MeSH
• buněčné jadérko účinky záření   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• buněčný cyklus účinky záření   MeSH
• G2 fáze účinky záření   MeSH
• genetická transkripce MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• poškození DNA účinky záření   MeSH
• transkripční iniciační komplex Pol1 - proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• ultrafialové záření MeSH
• výpočetní biologie MeSH
• záření gama škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• transcription factor UBF MeSH Prohlížeč
• transkripční iniciační komplex Pol1 - proteiny MeSH

BACKGROUND: The repair of spontaneous and induced DNA lesions is a multistep process. Depending on the type of injury, damaged DNA is recognized by many proteins specifically involved in distinct DNA repair pathways. RESULTS: We analyzed the DNA-damage response after ultraviolet A (UVA) and γ irradiation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts and focused on upstream binding factor 1 (UBF1), a key protein in the regulation of ribosomal gene transcription. We found that UBF1, but not nucleolar proteins RPA194, TCOF, or fibrillarin, was recruited to UVA-irradiated chromatin concurrently with an increase in heterochromatin protein 1β (HP1β) level. Moreover, Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) confirmed interaction between UBF1 and HP1β that was dependent on a functional chromo shadow domain of HP1β. Thus, overexpression of HP1β with a deleted chromo shadow domain had a dominant-negative effect on UBF1 recruitment to UVA-damaged chromatin. Transcription factor UBF1 also interacted directly with DNA inside the nucleolus but no interaction of UBF1 and DNA was confirmed outside the nucleolus, where UBF1 recruitment to DNA lesions appeared simultaneously with cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers; this occurrence was cell-cycle-independent. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the simultaneous presence and interaction of UBF1 and HP1β at DNA lesions is activated by the presence of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and mediated by the chromo shadow domain of HP1β. This might have functional significance for nucleotide excision repair.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA repair, DNA-damage response, Irradiation, Live-cell studies, Nucleolus, UBF1,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The study of embryonic stem cells is in the spotlight in many laboratories that study the structure and function of chromatin and epigenetic processes. The key properties of embryonic stem cells are their capacity for self-renewal and their pluripotency. Pluripotent stem cells are able to differentiate into the cells of all three germ layers, and because of this property they represent a promising therapeutic tool in the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson's disease and diabetes, or in the healing of lesions after heart attack. As the basic nuclear unit, chromatin is responsible for the regulation of the functional status of cells, including pluripotency and differentiation. Therefore, in this review we discuss the functional changes in chromatin during differentiation and the correlation between epigenetics events and the differentiation potential of embryonic stem cells. In particular we focus on post-translational histone modification, DNA methylation and the heterochromatin protein HP1 and its unique function in mouse and human embryonic stem cells.

• Klíčová slova
• Chromatin, Differentiation, Embryonic stem cells, Epigenetics, Nucleus, Pluripotency,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1), which binds to sites of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation, is primarily responsible for gene silencing and the formation of heterochromatin. We observed that HP1 beta is located in both the chromocenters and fibrillarin-positive nucleoli interiors. However, HP1 alpha and HP1 gamma occupied fibrillarin-positive compartments to a lesser extent, corresponding to the distinct levels of HP1 subtypes at the promoter of rDNA genes. Deficiency of histone methyltransferases SUV39h and/or inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACi) decreased HP1 beta and H3K9 trimethylation at chromocenters, but not in fibrillarin-positive regions that co-localized with RNA polymerase I. Similarly, SUV39h- and HDACi-dependent nucleolar rearrangement and inhibition of rDNA transcription did not affect the association between HP1 beta and fibrillarin. Moreover, the presence of HP1 beta in nucleoli is likely connected with transcription of ribosomal genes and with the role of fibrillarin in nucleolar processes.

• MeSH
• buněčné jadérko metabolismus   MeSH
• chromozomální proteiny, nehistonové metabolismus   MeSH
• fibroblasty metabolismus   MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• methyltransferasy metabolismus   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• represorové proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• Cbx1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• chromozomální proteiny, nehistonové MeSH
• fibrillarin MeSH Prohlížeč
• methyltransferasy MeSH
• represorové proteiny MeSH
• Suv39h1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč

The nucleolus is a nuclear compartment that plays an important role in ribosome biogenesis. Some structural features and epigenetic patterns are shared between nucleolar and non-nucleolar compartments. For example, the location of transcriptionally active mRNA on extended chromatin loop species is similar to that observed for transcriptionally active ribosomal DNA (rDNA) genes on so-called Christmas tree branches. Similarly, nucleolus organizer region-bearing chromosomes located a distance from the nucleolus extend chromatin fibers into the nucleolar compartment. Specific epigenetic events, such as histone acetylation and methylation and DNA methylation, also regulate transcription of both rRNA- and mRNA-encoding loci. Here, we review the epigenetic mechanisms and structural features that regulate transcription of ribosomal and mRNA genes. We focus on similarities in epigenetic and structural regulation of chromatin in nucleoli and the surrounding non-nucleolar region and discuss the role of proteins, such as heterochromatin protein 1, fibrillarin, nucleolin, and upstream binding factor, in rRNA synthesis and processing.

• MeSH
• buněčné jadérko genetika   metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• chromatin genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• epigeneze genetická * MeSH
• genetická transkripce MeSH
• geny rRNA MeSH
• histony metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• messenger RNA genetika   MeSH
• ribozomální DNA genetika   MeSH
• ribozomy genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chromatin MeSH
• histony MeSH
• messenger RNA MeSH
• ribozomální DNA MeSH