Molecular Architecture of Yeast Chromatin Assembly Factor 1

Sci Rep. 2016 May 25:6:26702. doi: 10.1038/srep26702.

Abstract

Chromatin Assembly Complex 1 (CAF-1) is a major histone chaperone involved in deposition of histone H3 and H4 into nucleosome. CAF-1 is composed of three subunits; p150, p60 and p48 for human and Cac1, Cac2 and Cac3 for yeast. Despite of its central role in chromatin formation, structural features of the full CAF-1 in complex with histones and other chaperones have not been well characterized. Here, we dissect molecular architecture of yeast CAF-1 (yCAF-1) by cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) and negative stain single-particle electron microscopy (EM). Our work revealed that Cac1, the largest subunit of yCAF-1, might serve as a major histone binding platform linking Cac2 and Cac3. In addition, EM analysis showed that yCAF-1 adopts a bilobal shape and Cac1 connecting Cac2 and Cac3 to generate a platform for binding histones. This study provides the first structural glimpse of the full CAF-1 complex and a structural framework to understand histone chaperoning processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 / chemistry*
  • Multiprotein Complexes / chemistry*
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / chemistry*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Chromatin Assembly Factor-1
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins