Assembly of Nucleosomal Arrays from Recombinant Core Histones and Nucleosome Positioning DNA

Summary

A method is presented for the reconstitution of model nucleosomal arrays from recombinant core histones and tandemly repeated nucleosome positioning DNA. We also describe how sedimentation velocity experiments in the analytical ultracentrifuge, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are used to monitor the extent of nucleosomal array saturation after reconstitution.

Abstract

Core histone octamers that are repetitively spaced along a DNA molecule are called nucleosomal arrays. Nucleosomal arrays are obtained in one of two ways: purification from in vivo sources, or reconstitution in vitro from recombinant core histones and tandemly repeated nucleosome positioning DNA. The latter method has the benefit of allowing for the assembly of a more compositionally uniform and precisely positioned nucleosomal array. Sedimentation velocity experiments in the analytical ultracentrifuge yield information about the size and shape of macromolecules by analyzing the rate at which they migrate through solution under centrifugal force. This technique, along with atomic force microscopy, can be used for quality control, ensuring that the majority of DNA templates are saturated with nucleosomes after reconstitution. Here we describe the protocols necessary to reconstitute milligram quantities of length and compositionally defined nucleosomal arrays suitable for biochemical and biophysical studies of chromatin structure and function.

Introduction

Eukaryotic genomes do not exist as naked DNA, but rather are compacted and organized by bound proteins. These complexes of DNA and protein are known as chromatin. The basic repeating unit of chromatin is the nucleosome. A nucleosome consists of histone octamer and 146 base pairs of DNA wrapped around the histone octamer about 1.6 times¹. The histone octamer is composed of two copies each of the core histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. Core histone octamers that are repetitively spaced along a DNA molecule are called nucleosomal arrays. The extended structure of nucleosomal arrays has been referred to as the 10 nm fiber or the "beads on a string" structure and is present in vitro under low salt conditions². The 10 nm fiber is capable of condensing into higher order structures through intra-array compaction and/or inter-array oligomerization². These higher order structures can be induced in the presence of salts, or can be influenced through the binding of chromatin architectural proteins to the nucleosomal array^3,4. Levels of chromatin compaction are inversely correlated with rate of transcription in vivo^5,6. Recent research highlights the importance of the structural organization of genomes in processes such as differentiation, cancer development, and others^7,8. The use of nucleosomal arrays to study chromatin structure and function has become widespread. Here we describe a method for the assembly of nucleosomal arrays from recombinant core histones and nucleosome positioning DNA.

Using recombinant DNA with tandem repeats of nucleosome positioning sequences allows for the reconstitution of arrays that contain regularly spaced nucleosomes. Two of the more popular positioning sequences are the 5S rRNA gene sequence and the "601" sequence^9,10. The 601 sequence was derived from SELEX experiments and more strongly positions nucleosomes than the 5S sequence¹¹. Consequently, the linker DNA length of the 601 arrays is more homogeneous. Tandemly repeated nucleosome positioning DNA is obtained by gel filtration^4,12. Recombinant histones are purified from E. coli under denaturing conditions¹³. The use of recombinant histones allows one to carefully control the histone composition of the nucleosomal arrays. For example, core histones bearing specific mutations¹⁴ or post-translational modifications^15,16 can be substituted for wild type core histones.

Sedimentation velocity experiments monitor the rate of sedimentation of macromolecules in solution under an applied centrifugal force¹⁷. This yields information about the size and shape of macromolecules in a sample. Sedimentation velocity experiments are thus an appropriate tool for studying solution state changes in chromatin fiber structure due to chromatin condensation¹⁸. Importantly, it is first necessary to use sedimentation velocity experiments as a quality control step in nucleosomal array reconstitution. If DNA and nucleosomes are not combined at the proper molar ratio, the arrays may be under- or over-saturated with core histones. Thus, the information gained from sedimentation velocity experiments is used to ensure that the DNA is properly saturated with nucleosomes. It is important to use alternative methods to estimate the saturation of DNA with nucleosomes, especially if working with a previously uncharacterized DNA template. Therefore, we also describe a method for analysis of nucleosomal arrays using atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM is a powerful technique that allows visualization of the effects of a number of parameters, such as the level of saturation, effect of the presence of histone variants or the effects of MgCl₂ ^19,20. AFM has also been applied to study nucleosome dynamics using time lapse imaging ²¹. In vitro assembled nucleosomal 12-mer arrays are particularly amenable to AFM studies because they belong in the right size range for AFM imaging ²². In the present study we have used AFM of nucleosomal arrays as a quality control as well as a means of affirming the data from AUC ("seeing is believing"). In addition to simple visualization, AFM allows measurement of height profiles of samples as an additional metric.

Protocol

1. Assembly of Recombinant Core Histones into Octamers

Rationale: The first step in nucleosomal array reconstitution is to prepare native core histone octamers from lyophilized recombinant core histones. Histone proteins are combined in equal molar amounts and assembled into histone octamers by dialyzing the samples out of a denaturing buffer into refolding buffer.

1. Purify and lyophilize recombinant core histones (H2A, H2B, H3, H4) as described¹³.
2. Dissolve approximately 5 mg of each lyophilized core histone in 3 ml of unfolding buffer (6 M guanidinium HCl, 20 mM Tris pH 7.5, 5 mM DTT). Allow each aliquot to dissolve for at least one hour. Ensure that no protein remains on the sides of the container.
3. Measure the absorbance of each histone at 276 nm using unfolding buffer as a reference.
4. Calculate the molarity of each histone using their extinction coefficients (See Table 1 for Xenopus histone extinction coefficients). Compare the absorbance determined concentration of histone to the lyophilized dry weight, and estimate if the majority of the protein is dissolved.
5. Determine which histone you have the fewest moles of, as this will be the limiting number of moles for all histones.
6. Combine the histones in equal molar amounts and dilute with unfolding buffer to a final concentration of 1 mg/ml.
7. Place the sample into 6-8 kDa MWCO dialysis tubing. Seal the tubing and place into 2 L of cold refolding buffer (2 M NaCl, 10 mM Tris pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA, 5 mM β-mercaptoethanol).
8. Dialyze the sample for 18 hr at 4 °C with stirring. Ensure the dialysis tubing can rotate freely and vigorously, or else the histones may precipitate.
9. Change the dialysis buffer twice in the 18 hr period (i.e. change the refolding buffer about every 6 hr until done). Even if precipitate is formed do not discard the sample, some octamer may be recovered although the yield will be decreased.

Note: See step 2.1-2.2 to prepare column equilibration for the next day.

2. Purification of Histone Octamers by Size Exclusion Chromatography

Rationale: After concluding with section 1, samples will contain histone octamers as well as other histone complexes such as aggregates, H3/H4 tetramers, and H2A/H2B dimers. Histone octamers will be purified away from these other complexes using size exclusion chromatography (SEC).

1. Connect a HiLoad 16/60 Superdex200 16/60 (S200) column to an FPLC system. Ensure that air bubbles do not enter the system.
2. Clean the S200 column with 0.2 μm filtered water. Use a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min and set a back pressure limit of 0.5 MPa. Ensure you have enough water and allow the column to clean overnight.
3. Equilibrate the S200 column and sample loop of the FPLC using refolding buffer. Use 1 L of 0.2 μm filtered refolding buffer. Flow refolding buffer through the column at a rate of 1 ml/min and a maximum pressure of 0.5 MPa for about 2 hr.
4. Equilibrate a Vivaspin centrifugal concentrator (50 kDa MWCO) with 1 ml of refolding buffer. Remove the sample from dialysis tubing and centrifuge the sample at 4 °C to remove any precipitates. Pipette the sample supernatant into the concentrator. Concentrate the sample to a volume of approximately 500 μl.
5. Remove the concentrated octamer sample to a new container and rinse the concentrator with 1 ml refolding buffer. Concentrate the rinse down to 500 μl, and add it to the octamer sample. This helps to salvage any octamer remaining in the concentrator.
6. Spin the sample in a 1.5 ml microfuge tube for 5 min at 10,000 rpm at 4 °C. Collect the supernatant and transfer to a new tube. This helps to remove any precipitate before loading the sample on the FPLC.
7. Load the sample onto the S200 column. Load a maximum of 1.5 ml total volume or 15 mg octamer in a single purification.
8. Elute the sample using freshly made refolding buffer. Use a flow rate of 1 ml/min and a back pressure limit of 0.5 MPa. Use two column volumes (400 ml) refolding buffer and collect 2 ml fractions. Monitor the absorbance at 280 nm during elution. The different species will elute in order of decreasing size. Histone aggregates usually elute at approximately 45 ml, octamer at about 65 ml, and dimer at around 84 ml (Figure 1).
9. Analyze the elution fractions from peaks of interest by running samples on an 18-20% SDS-PAGE. Fractions containing purified octamers should have equal molar amounts of the four core histone proteins (Figure 1).
10. Pool the fractions that contain purified octamers, and concentrate to ≤15 mg/ml with a Vivaspin centrifugal filter. If left dilute, octamers may disassociate into H2A/H2B dimers and H3/H4 tetramers.
11. Determine the octamer concentration by measuring the absorbance at 280 nm and calculate using the extinction coefficient from Table 1.
12. Histone octamers can be kept short term in refolding buffer at 4 °C. If being stored long term, the octamers will be more stable at -20 °C and in a 50% glycerol solution. Octamers stored in glycerol should be dialyzed into fresh refolding buffer before absorbance measurements and use in nucleosomal array reconstitutions.

3. Reconstitution of Nucleosomal Arrays from DNA and Purified Octamers

Rationale: Reconstitution of nucleosomal arrays requires that histone octamers and template DNA be combined at specific molar ratios. Mixtures of DNA and histone octamers in 2 M NaCl are step dialyzed into buffers of decreasing ionic strength. A gradual change to lower salt ensures proper nucleosome formation. Obtaining nucleosomal arrays with the desired level of histone octamer saturation of the template DNA requires small scale test reconstitutions followed by a large scale preparative reconstitution. The appropriate conditions defined by the small scale reconstitutions are used to guide the preparative reconstitution.

1. Purify tandemly repeated nucleosome positioning DNA as described ^4,12. Briefly, isolate the plasmid DNA using a Qiagen GigaPrep kit or a similar product. Set-up a restriction enzyme digest in order to release the template DNA and digest the plasmid DNA to smaller sizes (≤700bp). The template DNA can then be purified away from the small plasmid DNA remnants using size exclusion chromatography (SEC). A gravity fed column, with a height of about 115 cm packed with Sephacryl S-1000 beads is sufficient for purification of 601^207bp x 12mer DNA.

Notes: For plasmid DNA purification at decreased cost but increased effort, one can use alkaline lysis with phenol/chloroform DNA purification in order to isolate plasmid DNA from E. coli^23,24. Strategies for separating template DNA from plasmid DNA may vary with changes in template DNA size. For SEC it is important to set up the restriction enzyme digest in a fashion which maximizes the difference in size between the template and plasmid DNA.

2. Determine which molar ratios (r) to use for reconstitutions. r is equal to the ratio of moles of octamer to moles of DNA repeat. For initial small scale trials, r values of 0.9, 1, and 1.1 are appropriate if the intent is to obtain saturated nucleosomal arrays.
3. Prepare the small scale samples by calculating the amount of octamer to add to approximately 18 μg of DNA for each molar ratio to be tested. Mix the DNA and histone octamers. The final concentration of NaCl in the sample should be ≥2 M, and the final concentration of DNA should be around 0.3 μg/μl. The final sample buffer conditions should also include 10 mM Tris pH 7.8, and 1 mM EDTA.
4. The samples are now ready for dialysis. Load the samples into 12k-14k MWCO dialysis tubing. Dialyze the samples against 2L of buffer of decreasing ionic strength as follows.

Components in all buffers: 10 mM Tris pH 7.8, 1 mM EDTA. Buffer 1 (add 1 M NaCl, 1 mM DTT) for 5-6 hr. Buffer 2 (add 0.75 M NaCl, 1 mM DTT) overnight. Buffer 3 (add 2.5 mM NaCl, 1 mM DTT) for 5-6 hr. Buffer 4 (add 2.5 mM NaCl, 0.1 mM PMSF) overnight.

5. Remove the samples from the dialysis tubing and proceed to sections 4-6. If the small-scale samples yield the desired results, repeat the steps in sections 3-6 on the large scale.

Note: In order to conserve resources, small scale samples should have the minimum volume necessary to suffice for downstream screening assays. In order to have enough sample for the sedimentation velocity and AFM experiments listed here, 50 μl samples at 0.3 mg/ml DNA are appropriate. The size of large scale, preparative samples are dependent on their intended use. A large scale sample should be prepared in the same manner as the small scale samples.

4. Sedimentation Velocity Analysis of Reconstituted Nucleosomal Arrays

Rationale: Sedimentation velocity experiments in the Beckman Xl-A/I analytical ultracentrifuge yield information on the size and shape of molecules in solution. Sedimentation velocity experiments performed under low salt conditions are used to determine the extent to which the reconstituted arrays are saturated with nucleosomes.

1. Dilute the sample to an absorbance around 0.5 at 260 nm using TEN buffer (10 mM Tris pH 7.8, 1 mM EDTA, 2.5 mM NaCl). Load 400 μl of sample into a cell with a two sector centerpiece, with the sample on one side and the reference (TEN buffer) on the other²⁵. Keep the reference meniscus higher than the sample meniscus (i.e. add 420 μl reference solution).
2. Load the cells into the rotor, and align the cells properly using the hash marks on the bottom of the cells and rotor²⁵. Gently dust the lenses of the cells using compressed air.
3. Turn on the XL-A/XL-I centrifuge, insert the rotor, and attach and secure the optics as described in the manual. Open the Proteome Lab software and select file: new.
4. Set up a single scan run at 3,000 rpm and a temperature of 25 °C. Under options, select stop after last scan, and run radial calibration (radial calibration is not necessary if the rotor was the last rotor used in the AUC).
5. For each cell, name the samples, select a wavelength (260 nm), select absorbance, and choose a save file location on your computer. Begin the single scan run.
6. Use the single scan to determine the appropriate radial scan length (Figure 2A). Decreasing the length of the cell that will be scanned decreases the run time. However, be sure to include the sample meniscus and extend the end very close to, or at the bottom of the cell.

Note: Single scans allow the measurement area to be shortened by starting measurements just before the sample meniscus (Figure 2A). Most of the scans generated during the AUC run should have boundary fractions past the meniscus as well as stable plateaus (Figure 2B). Dirty lenses on the AUC cells can generate scans with large spikes, these may affect analysis of the data. The UltraScan software includes a manual which is a great resource for information regarding the analysis of analytical ultracentrifugation data²⁶.

7. Using the XL-A/XL-I control panel, enter a speed of 0 and press start. This will prompt the centrifuge chamber to pull a vacuum and allow the temperature of the chamber to equilibrate. Wait 1 hr to allow for temperature equilibration before beginning a run.
8. Use the software to set the run up for the desired speed and number of scans. Higher speeds increase resolution, but one should collect at least 20 scans (preferably more) before the sample has sedimented to the bottom of the cell. It is convenient to overlay the last several scans (accomplished in the options menu) in order to monitor the progress of the run and check for potential problems such as leaking cells. Monitor the first couple of scans to ensure proper operation.

5. Editing and Analyzing Sedimentation Velocity Data

Rationale: Raw sedimentation velocity data should be analyzed by a program that yields a diffusion-corrected sedimentation coefficient distribution. This information in turn indicates the fraction of a reconstituted sample that contains a given saturation level, e.g. if using a 12-mer DNA template it will be possible to determine the fraction of reconstituted arrays that has 10, 11 and 12 nucleosomes/DNA.

1. Use AUC data analysis software such as UltraScan to edit the data²⁶. Editing of scan data must be done for each cell and creates a data set for subsequent analysis. Proper editing of scans involves defining the sample meniscus, reducing the data to a region of interest, and defining baseline as well as plateau regions (Figure 2). Unwanted scans can also be removed from the data set at this point. However, since it is possible to remove unwanted scans during analysis, it is recommended that all scans be kept at this point.
2. We strongly recommend that the enhanced van Holde-Weischet method be used to analyze the data²⁷. This analysis method corrects for the effects of diffusion over the course of the run and yields the integral distribution of sedimentation coefficients. In particular, the enhanced van Holde-Weischet method (as implemented in UltraScan) will allow for the inclusion of scans which lack stable plateaus, or which contain boundary fractions which have not cleared the meniscus in the analysis²⁸.
3. Determine the distribution of sedimentation coefficients for the assembled arrays. Representative results for 601-12 (207bp, 12-mer) nucleosomal arrays are shown in Figure 3.
4. If one of the small scale samples contains arrays with the desired range of sedimentation coefficients, then repeat the process at an increased scale starting with section 3. If none of the small scale samples has a proper distribution of sedimentation coefficients then repeat the small scale tests with a new r range starting at section 3.

6. Visualizing Nucleosomal Arrays Using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)

Rationale: AFM allows visualization of the level of saturation of nucleosomal arrays. This technique complements sedimentation velocity by AUC and restriction enzyme digestion as a quality control assay.

1. Using methods described above, obtain a well saturated nucleosome array (Figure 5A).
2. Prepare APTES treated mica slides by placing ~30 μl 1:1,000 dilution of commercial (Sigma-Aldrich (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane A3648-100ML) in 0.22 μm filtered nanopure water for 30 min.
3. After 30 min rinse the APTES off with filtered water and gently dry them in a Nitrogen flow.
4. Place appropriately diluted nucleosome array sample (~1.5 ng/μl) on the slide, and incubate covered at room temperature for 15 min.
5. Rinse sample off with filtered sample buffer, dry as before, and place slide on the stage of AFM (in this case an Asylum Research MFP-3D Atomic Force Microscope).
6. Start by imaging 2 x 2 μm scans with 512 scan lines. Count the number of nucleosomes to ascertain level of saturation (Figure 5B).
7. Ideally you should image areas on the slide with well separated nucleosome arrays.
8. For higher resolution images, a 500 x 500 nm scan can be obtained (Figure 5C).
9. Images can be flattened and analyzed using the MFP-3D software provided by Asylum.
10. Each image can be divided into four quadrants and zoomed in digitally to obtain a clearer view of well-separated arrays and multiple free hand lines can be drawn through the arrays and height profiles are obtained for the nucleosomes (Figure 5C, right panel-height trace and 5D).
11. Several such images should be analyzed for each type of array encompassing several hundreds of nucleosomes. Height profiles are recorded, categorized and plotted in MS Excel.

Results

To illustrate the protocol we reconstituted nucleosomal arrays from recombinant Xenopus core histones and DNA consisting of 12 tandem 207 bp repeats of the 601 positioning sequence (601²⁰⁷ x 12). We first assembled native octamers from lyophilized core histones and then purified the octamers by FPLC using an S200 column (Figure 1A). Larger complexes elute earlier from the S200 column. Histones generally elute in this order: non-specific histone aggregates, histone octamer, H3/H4 tetra...

Discussion

Model nucleosomal arrays are a very useful tool for the in vitro study of chromatin structure and function. For example, they have been widely used to study the mechanism of chromatin fiber condensation in solution ^30-34, and made it possible to obtain an x-ray structure of a tetranucleosome ³⁵. More recently they have proven useful in deciphering the structural effects of specific core histone variants, mutants and posttranslational modifications^14-16,36. Here we describe a gene...

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
(3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane	Sigma-Aldrich	A3648-100ML
6-8 kDa MWCO Dialysis Tubing	Fisher	21-152-5
HiLoad Superdex 200 16/60 Column	GE	17-1069-01
Vivaspin 50 kDa MWCO Centrifugal Concentrator	Sartorius	VS2031
12-14 kDa MWCO Dialysis Tubing	Fisher	08-667A
Illustra Sephacryl S-1000 Superfine	GE	17-0476-01
XL-A/I Analytical Ultracentrifuge	Beckman-Coulter