Effects of altering histone posttranslational modifications on mitotic chromosome structure and mechanics

Ronald Biggs; Patrick Z. Liu; Andrew D. Stephens; John F. Marko

doi:10.1091/mbc.E18-09-0592

Effects of altering histone posttranslational modifications on mitotic chromosome structure and mechanics

Ronald Biggs, Patrick Z. Liu, Andrew D. Stephens, John F. Marko^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Molecular Biosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

During cell division, chromatin is compacted into mitotic chromosomes to aid faithful segregation of the genome between two daughter cells. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of histones alter compaction of interphase chromatin, but it remains poorly understood how these modifications affect mitotic chromosome stiffness and structure. Using micropipette-based force measurements and epigenetic drugs, we probed the influence of canonical histone PTMs that dictate interphase euchromatin (acetylation) and heterochromatin (methylation) on mitotic chromosome stiffness. By measuring chromosome doubling force (the force required to double chromosome length), we find that histone methylation, but not acetylation, contributes to mitotic structure and stiffness. We discuss our findings in the context of chromatin gel modeling of the large-scale organization of mitotic chromosomes.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	820-827
Number of pages	8
Journal	Molecular biology of the cell
Volume	30
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.E18-09-0592
State	Published - 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Molecular Biology
Cell Biology

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10.1091/mbc.E18-09-0592

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title = "Effects of altering histone posttranslational modifications on mitotic chromosome structure and mechanics",

abstract = "During cell division, chromatin is compacted into mitotic chromosomes to aid faithful segregation of the genome between two daughter cells. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of histones alter compaction of interphase chromatin, but it remains poorly understood how these modifications affect mitotic chromosome stiffness and structure. Using micropipette-based force measurements and epigenetic drugs, we probed the influence of canonical histone PTMs that dictate interphase euchromatin (acetylation) and heterochromatin (methylation) on mitotic chromosome stiffness. By measuring chromosome doubling force (the force required to double chromosome length), we find that histone methylation, but not acetylation, contributes to mitotic structure and stiffness. We discuss our findings in the context of chromatin gel modeling of the large-scale organization of mitotic chromosomes.",

author = "Ronald Biggs and Liu, {Patrick Z.} and Stephens, {Andrew D.} and Marko, {John F.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health through Grants no. R01-GM105847, U54-CA193419 (CR-PS-OC), by a subcontract to Grant U54-DK107980 (4DN), and by Grant K99-GM123195 (A.D.S.). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Biggs et al.",

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doi = "10.1091/mbc.E18-09-0592",

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T1 - Effects of altering histone posttranslational modifications on mitotic chromosome structure and mechanics

AU - Biggs, Ronald

AU - Liu, Patrick Z.

AU - Stephens, Andrew D.

AU - Marko, John F.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health through Grants no. R01-GM105847, U54-CA193419 (CR-PS-OC), by a subcontract to Grant U54-DK107980 (4DN), and by Grant K99-GM123195 (A.D.S.). Publisher Copyright: © 2019 Biggs et al.

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - During cell division, chromatin is compacted into mitotic chromosomes to aid faithful segregation of the genome between two daughter cells. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of histones alter compaction of interphase chromatin, but it remains poorly understood how these modifications affect mitotic chromosome stiffness and structure. Using micropipette-based force measurements and epigenetic drugs, we probed the influence of canonical histone PTMs that dictate interphase euchromatin (acetylation) and heterochromatin (methylation) on mitotic chromosome stiffness. By measuring chromosome doubling force (the force required to double chromosome length), we find that histone methylation, but not acetylation, contributes to mitotic structure and stiffness. We discuss our findings in the context of chromatin gel modeling of the large-scale organization of mitotic chromosomes.

AB - During cell division, chromatin is compacted into mitotic chromosomes to aid faithful segregation of the genome between two daughter cells. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of histones alter compaction of interphase chromatin, but it remains poorly understood how these modifications affect mitotic chromosome stiffness and structure. Using micropipette-based force measurements and epigenetic drugs, we probed the influence of canonical histone PTMs that dictate interphase euchromatin (acetylation) and heterochromatin (methylation) on mitotic chromosome stiffness. By measuring chromosome doubling force (the force required to double chromosome length), we find that histone methylation, but not acetylation, contributes to mitotic structure and stiffness. We discuss our findings in the context of chromatin gel modeling of the large-scale organization of mitotic chromosomes.

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Effects of altering histone posttranslational modifications on mitotic chromosome structure and mechanics

Abstract

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