Histone H3 core domain in chromatin with different DNA linker lengths studied by 1H-Detected solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Chromatin, a dynamic protein-DNA complex that regulates eukaryotic genome accessibility and essential functions, is composed of nucleosomes connected by linker DNA with each nucleosome consisting of DNA wrapped around an octamer of histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4. Magic angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can yield unique insights into histone structure and dynamics in condensed nucleosomes and nucleosome arrays representative of chromatin at physiological concentrations. Recently we used J-coupling-based solid-state NMR methods to investigate with residue-specific resolution the conformational dynamics of histone H3 N-terminal tails in 16-mer nucleosome arrays containing 15, 30 or 60 bp DNA linkers. Here, we probe the H3 core domain in the 16-mer arrays as a function of DNA linker length via dipolar coupling-based H-1-detected solid-state NMR techniques. Specifically, we established nearly complete assignments of backbone chemical shifts for H3 core residues in arrays with 15-60 bp DNA linkers reconstituted with H-2,C-13,N-15-labeled H3. Overall, these chemical shifts were similar irrespective of the DNA linker length indicating no major changes in H3 core conformation. Notably, however, multiple residues at the H3-nucleosomal DNA interface in arrays with 15 bp DNA linkers exhibited relatively pronounced differences in chemical shifts and line broadening compared to arrays with 30 and 60 bp linkers. These findings are consistent with increased heterogeneity in nucleosome packing and structural strain within arrays containing short DNA linkers that likely leads to side-chains of these interfacial residues experiencing alternate conformations or shifts in their rotamer populations relative to arrays with the longer DNA linkers.

Automated summary

Chromatin, a dynamic protein-DNA complex that regulates eukaryotic genome accessibility and essential functions. Solid-state NMR techniques were used to investigate the conformational dynamics of histone H3 tails in nucleosome arrays with different DNA linker lengths. The chemical shifts and line broadening of certain residues at the H3-nucleosomal DNA interface varied in arrays with short DNA linkers compared to arrays with longer linkers, indicating increased nucleosome packing heterogeneity and structural strain.