Biology subjects

Kono, H.

Publications and source records attributed to Kono, H..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Modeling SARS-CoV-2 nsp1-5'-UTR complex via the extended ensemble simulations

Nonstructural protein 1 (nsp1) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a 180-residue protein that blocks translation of host mRNAs in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. Although it is known that SARS-CoV-2s own RNA evades nsp1s host translation shutoff, the molecular mechanism underlying the evasion was poorly understood. We performed an extended ensemble molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the mechanism of the viral RNA evasion. Simulation results showed that the stem loop structure of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA 5-untranslated region (SL1) is recognized by both nsp1s globular region and intrinsically disordered region. The recognition presumably enables selective translation of viral RNAs. Cluster analysis of the binding mode and detailed analysis of the binding poses revealed several residues involved in the SL1 recognition mechanism. The simulation results imply that the nsp1 C-terminal helices are lifted from the 40S ribosome upon the binding of SL1 to nsp1, unblocking translation of the viral RNA.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2020

Structural basis of the regulation of normal and oncogenic methylation of nucleosomal histone H3 Lys36 by NSD2

Dimethylated histone H3 Lys36 (H3K36me2) regulates gene expression by antagonizing the repressive effect of polycomb-group proteins. Aberrant upregulation of H3K36me2, either by overexpression or point mutations of NSD2/MMSET, an H3K36 dimethyltransferase, is found in various cancers, including multiple myeloma. To understand the mechanism underlying its regulation, here we report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the catalytic fragment of NSD2 bound to the nucleosome at 2.8 [A] resolution. The nucleosomal DNA is partially unwrapped at superhelix location +5.5, facilitating the access of NSD2 to H3K36. NSD2 interacts with DNA and H2A along with H3. The autoinhibitory loop of NSD2 changes its conformation upon nucleosome binding to accommodate H3 in its substrate-binding cleft. Kinetic analysis revealed two oncogenic mutations, E1099K and T1150A, to aberrantly activate NSD2 by increasing its catalytic turnover but not the nucleosome affinity. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that in both mutants, the autoinhibitory loop adopts an open state that can accommodate H3 more often than the wild type. We propose that E1099K and T1150A destabilize the interactions that keep the autoinhibitory loop closed, thereby enhancing the catalytic turnover. Our analyses would guide the development of specific inhibitors of NSD2 for the treatment of various cancers.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2019

Structural Studies of Overlapping Dinucleosomes in Solution

An overlapping dinucleosome (OLDN) is a structure composed of one hexasome and one octasome and appears to be formed through nucleosome collision promoted by nucleosome remodeling factor(s). In the present study, the solution structure of the OLDN was investigated through integration of small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS, respectively), computer modeling, and molecular dynamics simulations. Starting from the crystal structure, we generated a conformational ensemble based on normal mode analysis, and searched for the conformations that well reproduced the SAXS and SANS scattering curves. We found that inclusion of histone tails, which are not observed in the crystal structure, greatly improved model quality. The obtained structural models suggest that OLDNs adopt a variety of conformations stabilized by histone tails situated at the interface between the hexasome and octasome, simultaneously binding to both the hexasomal and octasomal DNA. In addition, our models define a possible direction for the conformational changes or dynamics, which may provide important information that furthers our understanding of the role of chromatin dynamics in gene regulation.\n\nStatement of SignificanceOverlapping dinucleosomes (OLDNs) are intermediate structures formed through nucleosome collision promoted by nucleosome remodeling factor(s). To study the solution structure of OLDNs, a structural library containing a wide variety of conformations was prepared though simulations, and the structures that well reproduced the small angle X-ray and neutron scattering data were selected from the library. Simultaneous evaluation of the conformational variation in the global OLDN structures and in the histone tails is difficult using conventional MD simulations. We overcame this problem by combining multiple simulation techniques, and showed the importance of the histone tails for stabilizing the structures of OLDNs in solution.

biophysics↗