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Histones are well-conserved proteins that form the basic structure of chromatin in eukaryotes and undergo several post-translational modifications, which are important for the control of transcription, replication, DNA damage repair, and chromosome condensation. In early branched organisms, histones are less conserved and appear to contain alternative sites for modifications, which could reveal evolutionary unique functions of histone modifications in gene expression and other chromatin-based processes. Here, by using high-resolution mass spectrometry, we identified and quantified histone post-translational modifications in two life cycle stages of Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease. We detected 44 new modifications, namely: 18 acetylations, seven monomethylations, seven dimethylations, seven trimethylations, and four phosphorylations. We found that replicative (epimastigote stage) contains more histone modifications than nonreplicative and infective parasites (trypomastigote stage). Acetylations of lysines at the C-terminus of histone H2A and methylations of lysine 23 of histone H3 were found to be enriched in trypomastigotes. In contrast, phosphorylation in serine 23 of H2B and methylations of lysine 76 of histone H3 predominates in proliferative states. The presence of one or two methylations in the lysine 76 was found in cells undergoing mitosis and cytokinesis, typical of proliferating parasites. Our findings provide new insights into the role of histone modifications related to the control of gene expression and cell-cycle regulation in an early divergent organism.

The phosphorylation of the carboxy-terminal heptapeptide repeats of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) controls several transcription-related events in eukaryotes. Trypanosomatids lack these typical repeats and display an unusual transcription control. RNA Pol II associates with the transcription site of the spliced leader (SL) RNA, which is used in the trans-splicing of all mRNAs transcribed on long polycistronic units. We found that Trypanosoma cruzi RNA Pol II associated with chromatin is highly phosphorylated. When transcription is inhibited by actinomycin D, the enzyme runs off from SL genes, remaining hyperphosphorylated and associated with polycistronic transcription units. Upon heat shock, the enzyme is dephosphorylated and remains associated with the chromatin. Transcription is partially inhibited with the accumulation of housekeeping precursor mRNAs, except for heat shock genes. DNA damage caused dephosphorylation and transcription arrest, with RNA Pol II dissociating from chromatin although staying at the SL. In the presence of calyculin A, the hyperphosphorylated form detached from chromatin, including the SL loci. These results indicate that in trypanosomes, the unusual RNA Pol II is phosphorylated during the transcription of SL and polycistronic operons. Different types of stresses modify its phosphorylation state, affecting pre-RNA processing., (Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

Trypanosomatids are parasites of worldwide distribution with relevant importance in human and veterinary health, which inhabit invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, such that they are exposed to large environmental variations during their life cycle. The signalling mechanisms and molecular basis that lead these parasites to adjust to such distinct conditions are beginning to be understood, and are somehow related to modifications in gene expression. Although the control of gene expression in this group of organisms happens predominantly at the post-transcriptional level, they present modifications in chromatin that has been implicated in transcription initiation, replication and DNA repair. Here, we explore the current scenario of chromatin alterations in these protozoans and how these changes affect transcription, replication and DNA repair in response to environmental modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The histone H4 from Trypanosomatids diverged from other eukaryotes in the N-terminus, a region that undergoes post-translation modifications involved in the control of gene expression, DNA replication, and chromatin assembly. Nonetheless, the N-terminus of Trypanosoma cruzi histone H4 is mainly acetylated at lysine 4. The lysines 10 and 14 are also acetylated, although at less extent, increasing during the S-phase or after DNA damage, which suggests a regulatory function. Here, we investigated the roles of these acetylations by expressing non-acetylated forms of histone H4 in T. cruzi. We found that histone H4 containing arginines at positions 10 or 14, to prevent acetylation were transported to the nucleus and inserted into the chromatin. However, their presence, even at low levels, interfered with DNA replication and transcription, causing a significant growth arrest of the cells. The absence of acetylation also increased the amount of soluble endogenous histones H3 and H4 and affected the interaction with Asf1, a histone chaperone. Therefore, acetylation of lysines 10 and 14 of the histone H4 in trypanosomes could be required for chromatin assembly and/or remodeling required for transcription and replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]