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Eukaryotic DNA is organized in nucleosomes, which package DNA and regulate its accessibility to transcription, replication, recombination and repair. Here, we show that in living cells nucleosomes protect DNA from high-energy radiation and reactive oxygen species. We combined sequence-based methods (ATAC-seq and BLISS) to determine the position of both nucleosomes and double strand breaks (DSBs) in the genome of nucleosome-rich malignant mesothelioma cells, and of the same cells partially depleted of nucleosomes. The results were replicated in the human MCF-7 breast carcinoma cell line. We found that, for each genomic sequence, the probability of DSB formation is directly proportional to the fraction of time it is nucleosome-free; DSBs accumulate distal from the nucleosome dyad axis. Nucleosome free regions and promoters of actively transcribed genes are more sensitive to DSB formation, and consequently to mutation. We argue that this may be true for a variety of chemical and physical DNA damaging agents., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

Because of its very high affinity for DNA, NF-kappaB is believed to make long-lasting contacts with cognate sites and to be essential for the nucleation of very stable enhanceosomes. However, the kinetic properties of NF-kappaB interaction with cognate sites in vivo are unknown. Here, we show that in living cells NF-kappaB is immobilized onto high-affinity binding sites only transiently, and that complete NF-kappaB turnover on active chromatin occurs in less than 30 s. Therefore, promoter-bound NF-kappaB is in dynamic equilibrium with nucleoplasmic dimers; promoter occupancy and transcriptional activity oscillate synchronously with nucleoplasmic NF-kappaB and independently of promoter occupancy by other sequence-specific transcription factors. These data indicate that changes in the nuclear concentration of NF-kappaB directly impact on promoter function and that promoters sample nucleoplasmic levels of NF-kappaB over a timescale of seconds, thus rapidly re-tuning their activity. We propose a revision of the enhanceosome concept in this dynamic framework.

Because of its very high affinity for DNA, NF-κB is believed to make long-lasting contacts with cognate sites and to be essential for the nucleation of very stable enhanceosomes. However, the kinetic properties of NF-κB interaction with cognate sites in vivo are unknown. Here, we show that in living cells NF-κB is immobilized onto high-affinity binding sites only transiently, and that complete NF-κB turnover on active chromatin occurs in less than 30 s. Therefore, promoter-bound NF-κB is in dynamic equilibrium with nucleoplasmic dimers; promoter occupancy and transcriptional activity oscillate synchronously with nucleoplasmic NF-κB and independently of promoter occupancy by other sequence-specific transcription factors. These data indicate that changes in the nuclear concentration of NF-κB directly impact on promoter function and that promoters sample nucleoplasmic levels of NF-κB over a timescale of seconds, thus rapidly re-tuning their activity. We propose a revision of the enhanceosome concept in this dynamic framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the high mobility group box (HMGB) chromosomal proteins. The HMGB family comprises the three proteins HMGB1, HMGB2 and HMBG3. The structure of these three proteins is highly conserved, and their biochemical properties are so far indistinguishable. HMGBs are composed of three different domains. The localization of these proteins in most cells is nuclear. In their nuclear identity, HMGB1 and HMGB2 bind to the minor groove of DNA, causing a local distortion of the double helix. They have little or no sequence preference and they are recruited to the site of action by specific DNA binding proteins.