Journal Article

Hemi-methylated DNA regulates DNA methylation inheritance through allosteric activation of H3 ubiquitylation by UHRF1

Guo, Angela H, Klevit, Rachel E, Major, Michael B, Li, Zimeng M, Erie, Dorothy A, Rothbart, Scott B, Yan, Feng, DaRosa, Paul A, Cornett, Evan M, Strahl, Brian D, Kaustov, Lilia, Cantu, Daniel V, Krajewski, Krzysztof, Dickson, Bradley M, Kuhlman, Brian, Harrison, Joseph S, Brown, Peter J, Goldfarb, Dennis, Arrowsmith, Cheryl H

2016

Overview

The epigenetic inheritance of DNA methylation requires UHRF1, a histone- and DNA-binding RING E3 ubiquitin ligase that recruits DNMT1 to sites of newly replicated DNA through ubiquitylation of histone H3. UHRF1 binds DNA with selectivity towards hemi-methylated CpGs (HeDNA); however, the contribution of HeDNA sensing to UHRF1 function remains elusive. Here, we reveal that the interaction of UHRF1 with HeDNA is required for DNA methylation but is dispensable for chromatin interaction, which is governed by reciprocal positive cooperativity between the UHRF1 histone- and DNA-binding domains. HeDNA recognition activates UHRF1 ubiquitylation towards multiple lysines on the H3 tail adjacent to the UHRF1 histone-binding site. Collectively, our studies are the first demonstrations of a DNA-protein interaction and an epigenetic modification directly regulating E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. They also define an orchestrated epigenetic control mechanism involving modifications both to histones and DNA that facilitate UHRF1 chromatin targeting, H3 ubiquitylation, and DNA methylation inheritance. Cells are able to regulate the activity of their genes in response to different cues. Genetic information is encoded in DNA and one way to regulate gene activity is to modify the DNA by attaching chemical “epigenetic” markers to it. When a cell divides, these epigenetic markers can be inherited by the daughter cells so that they share the same patterns of gene activity as the parent cell. When the DNA of the parent cell is copied prior to cell division, the epigenetic markers are also copied onto the new DNA. Mistakes in this process are linked to a wide range of diseases in humans, such as cancer and neurological disorders. One type of epigenetic marker is known as a methyl tag and it is added to DNA by certain enzymes in a process called DNA methylation. A protein called UHRF1 is required for human cells to inherit patterns of DNA methylation through cell division. This protein binds to newly copied DNA that lacks some methyl tags as well as to another protein associated with DNA called histone H3. UHRF1 modifies histone H3 by attaching a small protein molecule called ubiquitin to it. This helps to recruit a DNA methylation enzyme to place methyl tags on the newly copied DNA. However, it was not clear how the various properties of UHRF1 allow it to control how DNA methylation is inherited. Harrison et al. addressed this question by studying purified proteins and DNA fragments outside of living cells. The results show that UHRF1 binding to DNA and histone H3 work together to bring UHRF1 to the sites on DNA that require methylation. Further experiments revealed that the methylation pattern on newly copied DNA is able to activate the ability of UHRF1 to place ubiquitin on histone H3. The findings of Harrison et al. reveal a new mechanism by which dividing cells control how DNA methylation is inherited by their daughter cells. A future challenge will be to find out how attaching ubiquitin to histone H3 activates DNA methylation.

• Publisher: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd,eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
• Subject: Allosteric properties / Biochemistry / Biophysics and Structural Biology / CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins - metabolism / Chromatin / Deoxyribonucleic acid / DNA / DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 / DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases - metabolism / DNA - metabolism / DNA Methylation / DNMT1 protein / Epigenesis, Genetic / Epigenetics / Experiments / Gene expression / HeLa Cells / Heredity / Histone H3 / histone post-translational modifications / Histones / Histones - metabolism / Humans / Mutation / Preferences / Protein Binding / Proteins / Ubiquitin / Ubiquitin-protein ligase / Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Ubiquitination / ubiquitylation / UHRF1 / Wills