Fields of Interest: Regulation of nuclear organization and function
Recent advances in probing the nucleus have made it clear that nuclear organization is far more complex and ordered than had earlier been appreciated and that it plays a major role in cell function including gene expression and cell division. Our research is directed towards identifying the molecules defining such nuclear organization, as well as the signal transduction pathways regulating cell cycle-specific changes. Using Drosophila as a model system, a combination of molecular and genetic approaches are being used to analyze genes involved in these processes.
These studies are done in collaboration with Dr. Jorgen Johansen
PROJECT 1: Regulation of Chromatin Structure and gene expression.
The long term objective of my laboratory is to gain a molecular understanding of epigenetic processes that regulate chromatin structure and gene expression. Towards this end we have identified a novel tandem kinase in Drosophila, JIL-1, that localizes specifically to the gene-active interband regions of the larval polytene chromosomes, phosphorylates histone H3S10, and is enriched almost two-fold on the transcriptionally hyperactive male larval polytene X chromosome. In JIL-1 hypomorphs orderly interband regions of polytene chromosomes are disrupted and the chromosome arms highly condensed. Position effect variegation (PEV) in Drosophila has served as a major paradigm for the identification and genetic analysis of evolutionarily conserved determinants of epigenetic regulation of chromatin structure and gene silencing and we provide evidence that loss-of-function alleles of the JIL-1 histone H3S10 kinase can act either as suppressors or enhancers of PEV depending on the chromatin environment of the reporter locus. These effects on PEV were correlated with the spreading of the major heterochromatin markers dmH3K9 and HP1 to ectopic locations on the chromosome arms with the most pronounced upregulation found on the male and female X chromosomes. Based on these findings we propose a model where JIL-1 kinase activity and phosphorylation of histone H3S10 at interphase functions to antagonize heterochromatization by regulating a dynamic balance between factors promoting repression and activation of gene expression.
Gene silencing is a critical developmental process relevant to many human health problems that include cancer. Furthermore, JIL-1 is the Drosophila homolog of the mammalian MSK1 kinase which also functions as a regulator of chromatin structure by phosphorylating the histone H3S10 residue. At present the mammalian studies have been directed towards analyzing histone phosphorylation in the context of immediate early gene transcription. However, our results suggest that the concept of histone phosphorylation should be expanded to be considered in the context of the regulation of gene silencing as well. Thus, our studies will serve to provide general insights into the molecular mechanisms of how kinase activity modulates chromatin structure and gene regulation that are directly relevant to humans.
This Research is funded by the National Institutes of Health
PROJECT 2: Cell and molecular biology of spindle function during mitosis.
The long-term objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that nuclear derived proteins form a spindle matrix during mitosis that is distinct from the microtubule spindle apparatus and that this structure is involved in normal chromosome segregation as well as in spindle function. The concept of a spindle matrix has long been proposed based on theoretical considerations of the requirements for force production to help organize and stabilize the microtubule spindle during mitosis. However, molecular evidence corroborating its existence and function has been elusive. In Drosophila we have recently identified four nuclear proteins, Skeletor, Chromator, Megator, and EAST that interact with each other and that redistribute during prophase forming a fusiform spindle structure that persists in the absence of polymerized tubulin. Two of these proteins, Skeletor and Chromator, are localized to chromosomes during interphase whereas the other two, Megator and EAST, occupy the intranuclear space surrounding the chromosomes. RNAi and mutational analysis suggests that these genes are essential and that they affect spindle function and chromosome segregation. Future studies will examine the role of these proteins and the spindle matrix in microtubule spindle formation.This research is funded by the National Science Foundation and discussed in a News and Views segment in Science:
______________________Publications__________________________________Journal covers_______
Qi., H., C. Yao, W. Cai, J. Girton, K.M. Johansen and J. Johansen. (2009) Asator, a tau-tubulin kinase homolog in Drosophila localizes to the mitotic spindle. Dev. Dynamics. In press.
Ding, Y., C. Yao, M. Lince-Faria, U. Rath, W. Cai, H. Maiato, J. Girton, K.M. Johansen and J. Johansen. (2009) Chromator is required for proper microtubule spindle formation and mitosis in Drosophila. Dev. Biol. 334 : 253-263.
Johansen, J. and K.M. Johansen (2009) The spindle matrix through the cell cycle in Drosophila. Fly 3 : 22-29.
Johansen, K.M., W. Cai, H. Deng, X. Bao, W. Zhang, J. Girton and J. Johansen (2009) Methods for studying transcription and epigenetic chromatin modification in Drosophila polytene chromosome squash preparations using antibodies. Methods 48 : 387-397.
Lince-Faria, M., S. Maffini, B. Orr, Y. Ding, C. Florindo, C.E. Sunkel, A. Tavares, J. Johansen, K.M. Johansen and H. Maiato (2009) Spatio-temporal control of mitosis by the conserved spindle matrix protein Megator. J. Cell Biol. 184 : 647-657.
Bao, X., W. Cai, H. Deng, W. Zhang, R. Krencik, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2008) The COOH-terminal domain of the JIL-1 histone H3S10 kinase interacts with histone H3 and is required for correct targeting to chromatin. J. Biol. Chem. 283 : 32741-32750.
Cai, W., X. Bao, H. Deng, Y. Jin, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2008) RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription at active loci does not require histone H3S10 phosphorylation in Drosophila. Development 135 : 2917-2925.
Deng, H., X. Bao, W. Cai, M.J. Blacketer, A.S. Belmont, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2008) Ectopic histone H3S10 phosphorylation causes chromatin structure remodeling in Drosophila. Development 135 : 699-705.
Girton, J.R. and K.M. Johansen (2007) Chromatin structure and regulation of gene expression: the lessons of PEV in Drosophila. Adv. Genet. 61 :1-43.
Johansen, K.M and J. Johansen (2007) Cell and molecular biology of the spindle matrix. Int. Rev. Cytol. 263 : 155-206.
Deng, H., X. Bao, W. Zhang, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2007) Reduced levels of Su(var)3-9 but not Su(var)2-5 (HP1) counteract the effects on chromatin structure and viability in loss-of-function mutants of the JIL-1 histone H3S10 kinase. Genetics 177 : 79-87.
Bao, X., H. Deng, J. Johansen, J. Girton and K.M. Johansen (2007) Loss-of-function alleles of the JIL-1 histone H3S10 kinase enhance position-effect-variegation at pericentric sites in Drosophila heterochromatin. Genetics 176 : 1355-1358.
Bao, X., J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2007) The lamin Dm0Ari3 allele acts as an enhancer of position effect variegation at the wm4 locus in Drosophila. Genetica 129 : 339-342.
Fabian, L., X. Xia, D.V. Venkitaramani, K.M. Johansen, J. Johansen D.J. Andrew, and A. Forer (2007) Titin in insect spermatocyte spindle fibres associates with microtubules, actin, myosin and the matrix proteins Skeletor, Megator, and Chromator. J. Cell Sci. 120 : 2190-2204.
Lerach, S., W. Zhang, X. Bao, H. Deng, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2006) Loss-of-function alleles of the JIL-1 kinase are strong suppressors of position effect varigation of the wm4 allele in Drosophila. Genetics 173 : 2403-2406.
Johansen, K.M. and J. Johansen (2006) Regulation of chromatin structure by histone H3S10 phosphorylation. Chromosome Res. 14 : 393-404.
Rath, U., Y. Ding, H. Deng, H. Qi, X. Bao, W. Zhang, J. Girton, J. Johansen, and K.M. Johansen (2006) The chromodomain protein, Chromator, interacts with JIL-1 kinase and regulates the structure of Drosophila polytene chromosomes. J. Cell Sci. 119 : 2332-2341.
Zhang, W., H. Deng, X. Bao, S. Lerach, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2006) The JIL-1 histone H3S10 kinase regulates dimethyl histone H3K9 modifications and heterochromatic spreading in Drosophila. Development 133 : 229-235.
Lerach, S., W. Zhang, H. Deng, X. Bao, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2005) The JIL-1 kinase, a member of the MSL complex, is necessary for proper dosage compensation of eye pigmentation in Drosophila. Genesis 43 : 213-215.
Bao, X., W. Zhang, R. Krencik, Y. Wang, J. Girton, J. Johansen, and K.M. Johansen (2005) The JIL-1 kinase interacts with lamin Dm0 and regulates nuclear lamina morphology of Drosophila nurse cells. J. Cell Sci. 118 : 5079-5087.
Deng, H., W. Zhang, X. Bao, J.N. Martin, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2005) The JIL-1 kinase regulates the structure of Drosophila polytene chromosomes. Chromosoma 114 : 173-182.
Qi, H., U. Rath, Y. Ding, Y. Ji, M.J. Blacketer, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2005) EAST interacts with Megator and localizes to the putative spindle matrix during mitosis in Drosophila. J. Cell Biochem. 95 : 1284-1291.
Qi, H., U. Rath, D. Wang, Y. Xu, W. Zhang, Y. Ding, M.J. Blacketer, M.R. Paddy, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2004) Megator, an essential coiled-coil protein interacts with the putative spindle matrix during mitosis. Mol. Biol. Cell 15 : 4854-4865.
Rath, U., D. Wang, Y. Ding, Y-Z. Xu, M. Blacketer, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2004) Chromator, an essential chromodomain protein interacts directly with the putative spindle matrix protein Skeletor. J. Cell. Biochem. 93 : 1033-1047.
Zhang, W., Y. Jin, Y. Ji, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2003) Genetic and phenotypic analysis of alleles of the Drosophila chromosomal kinase JIL-1 reveals a functional requirement at multiple developmental stages. Genetics 165 : 1341-1354.
Johansen, K.M. and J. Johansen (2003) Studying nuclear organization in embryos using antibody tools. In Drosophila Cytogenetics Protocols. D.S. Henderson, Ed., Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey. p. 215-234.
Zhang, W., Y. Wang, J. Long, J. Girton, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2003) A developmentally regulated splice variant from the complex lola locus encoding multiple different zinc-finger domain proteins interacts with the chromosomal kinase JIL-1. J. Biol. Chem. 278 : 11696-11704.
Johansen, K.M. and J. Johansen (2002) Recent glimpses of the elusive spindle matrix. Cell Cycle 1 : 312-314.
Wang, Y., W. Zhang, Y. Jin, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2001) The JIL-1 tandem kinase mediates histone H3 phosphorylation and is required for maintenance of chromatin structure in Drosophila. Cell 105 : 433-443.
Walker, D.L., D. Wang, Y. Jin, U. Rath, Y. Wang, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2000) Skeletor, a novel chromosomal protein that redistributes during mitosis provides evidence for the formation of a spindle matrix. J. Cell Biol. 151 : 1401-1411.
Jin, Y., Y. Wang, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (2000) JIL-1, a chromosomal kinase implicated in regulation of chromatin structure, associates with the MSL dosage compensation complex. J. Cell Biol. 149 : 1005-1010.
Jin, Y., Y. Wang, D.L. Walker, H. Dong, C. Conley, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (1999) JIL-1: A novel chromosomal tandem kinase implicated in transcriptional regulation in Drosophila. Mol. Cell 4 : 129-135.
Johansen, K.M., J. Johansen, Y. Jin, D.L. Walker, D. Wang, and Y. Wang (1999) Chromatin structure and nuclear remodeling. Crit. Rev. Eukaryotic Gene Expr. 9 : 267-277.
Dong, H., Y. Jin, J. Johansen and K.M. Johansen (1999) Antibody identification, chromosome map assignment, and sequence analysis of a Rab escort protein homolog in Drosophila. Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1449 : 194-198.
Johansen, K.M. (1996) Dynamic remodeling of the nuclear architecture during the cell cycle. J. Cell. Biochem. 60: 289-296.
Johansen, K.M., J. Johansen, K.-H. Baek and Y. Jin (1996) Remodeling of nuclear architecture during the cell cycle in Drosophila embryos. J. Cell. Biochem. 63 : 268-279.
