The functions of nuclear membrane proteins and A-type lamin filaments, linked to a growing number of signaling pathways, human diseases (`laminopathies') and human aging, are an important open frontier in biology. We propose to focus on emerin, a conserved lamin-binding nuclear membrane LEM-domain protein, and its conserved essential histone-binding chromatin partner Barrier-to-Autointegration Factor (BAF). Loss of emerin in human males causes X-linked recessive Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD). However, emerin is expressed in nearly all tissues, suggesting wider roles in cell physiology. Our recent purification and characterization of six distinct emerin-containing complexes from HeLa cell nuclei support the hypothesis that emerin `scaffolds'a variety of multi-protein complexes at the nuclear envelope, with functions that include signaling, chromatin silencing, gene regulation and nuclear architecture. Interestingly, emerin interacts with the DNA damage-response kinase, DNA-PK, in vivo, and emerin-downregulated HeLa cells have reduced response to DNA damage, as assayed by the formation of phosphorylated-H2AX foci. Our previous studies of BAF, the shared partner for emerin and all other LEM-domain nuclear proteins, demonstrated essential and broad-ranging roles in chromatin structure, mitotic chromosome segregation, nuclear assembly and gene regulation in specific tissues including muscle. Our supporting results show that BAF interacts with nucleosomes, influences several different histone posttranslational modifications in vivo, and associates in vivo with at least two histone-modifying proteins including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) and Cul4 of the Cul4-DDB-ROC E3 ligase complex. Both PARP1 and the Cul4-DDB- ROC complex modify nucleosomal histones in response to DNA damage. These findings implicate BAF as a regulator of muscle gene expression (and therefore relevant to the EDMD disease mechanism), and suggest broad physiological roles for BAF and emerin during cellular responses to DNA damage.
Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that BAF compacts nucleosomes by characterizing the effects of BAF on mono-nucleosomes and reconstituted 12-mer nucleosome arrays, and by determining the effect of BAF on PARP1-mediated polynucleosome folding in vitro.
Aim 2 will characterize roles for emerin and BAF in DNA damage response pathways in cells downregulated for emerin or BAF.
Aim 3 is a whole-genome and promoter-specific analysis of BAF function in C. elegans, which is expected to identify genes relevant to its roles in muscle and DNA- damage responses.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed work is relevant to understanding the molecular mechanisms of Emery- Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, a syndrome that affects three tissues including skeletal muscle, tendons and the cardiac conduction system. The proposed investigation of BAF's interactions with chromatin and histone-modifying enzymes are also relevant to understanding why BAF is essential for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV- 1) to integrate into human chromosomes. The proposed studies of emerin and BAF in cellular responses to DNA damage are relevant to cancer and human aging.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM048646-16
Application #
8296536
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-CB-N (02))
Program Officer
Ainsztein, Alexandra M
Project Start
1994-05-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2012-07-01
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$482,938
Indirect Cost
$171,380
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Berk, Jason M; Wilson, Katherine L (2016) Simple Separation of Functionally Distinct Populations of Lamin-Binding Proteins. Methods Enzymol 569:101-14
Wilson, Katherine L; Weis, Karsten (2015) Editorial overview: Cell nucleus: Nuclear structure and organization—open frontiers in cell and genome biology. Curr Opin Cell Biol 34:v-vi
Mojica, Sergio A; Hovis, Kelley M; Frieman, Matthew B et al. (2015) SINC, a type III secreted protein of Chlamydia psittaci, targets the inner nuclear membrane of infected cells and uninfected neighbors. Mol Biol Cell 26:1918-34
Berk, Jason M; Simon, Dan N; Jenkins-Houk, Clifton R et al. (2014) The molecular basis of emerin-emerin and emerin-BAF interactions. J Cell Sci 127:3956-69
Bar, Daniel Z; Davidovich, Maya; Lamm, Ayelet T et al. (2014) BAF-1 mobility is regulated by environmental stresses. Mol Biol Cell 25:1127-36
Berk, Jason M; Tifft, Kathryn E; Wilson, Katherine L (2013) The nuclear envelope LEM-domain protein emerin. Nucleus 4:298-314
Simon, Dan N; Wilson, Katherine L (2013) Partners and post-translational modifications of nuclear lamins. Chromosoma 122:13-31
Berk, Jason M; Maitra, Sushmit; Dawdy, Andrew W et al. (2013) O-Linked ?-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) regulates emerin binding to barrier to autointegration factor (BAF) in a chromatin- and lamin B-enriched ""niche"". J Biol Chem 288:30192-209
Gjerstorff, Morten F; Rosner, Heike I; Pedersen, Christina B et al. (2012) GAGE cancer-germline antigens are recruited to the nuclear envelope by germ cell-less (GCL). PLoS One 7:e45819
Barkan, Rachel; Zahand, Adam J; Sharabi, Kfir et al. (2012) Ce-emerin and LEM-2: essential roles in Caenorhabditis elegans development, muscle function, and mitosis. Mol Biol Cell 23:543-52

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