Authors
Wang H, Farnung L, Dienemann C, Cramer P
Journal
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
Citation
Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2020 Jan;27(1):8-13.
Abstract
Recognition of histone-modified nucleosomes by specific reader domains underlies the regulation of chromatin-associated processes. Whereas structural studies revealed how reader domains bind modified histone peptides, it is unclear how reader domains interact with modified nucleosomes. Here, we report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the PWWP reader domain of human transcriptional coactivator LEDGF in complex with an H3K36-methylated nucleosome at 3.2-A resolution. The structure reveals multivalent binding of the reader domain to the methylated histone tail and to both gyres of nucleosomal DNA, explaining the known cooperative interactions. The observed cross-gyre binding may contribute to nucleosome integrity during transcription. The structure also explains how human PWWP domain-containing proteins are recruited to H3K36-methylated regions of the genome for transcription, histone acetylation and methylation, and for DNA methylation and repair.
DOI
10.1038/s41594-019-0345-4
