The P. falciparum alternative histones Pf H2A.Z and Pf H2B.Z are dynamically acetylated and antagonized by PfSir2 histone deacetylases at heterochromatin boundaries

Azizan S, Selvarajah SA, Tang J, Jeninga M, Schulz D, Pareek K, Herr T, Day KP, De Koning-Ward TF, Petter M, Duffy MF (2023)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

mBio American Society for Microbiology

Book Volume: 14

Article Number: e02014-23

Journal Issue: 6

DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02014-23

Abstract

The Plasmodium falciparum alternative histones Pf H2A.Z and Pf H2B.Z are enriched in the same nucleosomes in intergenic euchromatin but depleted from heterochromatin. They occupy most promoters but are only dynamically associated with expression at var genes. In other organisms, acetylation of H2A.Z is important for its functions in gene expression and chromatin structure. Here, we show that acetylated Pf H2A.Z and Pf H2B.Z are dynamically associated with gene expression at promoters. In addition, acetylated Pf H2A.Z and Pf H2B.Z are antagonized by the sirtuin class III histone deacetylases (HDAC) PfSir2A and B at heterochromatin boundaries and encroach upon heterochromatin in parasites lacking PfSir2A or B. However, the majority of acetylated Pf H2A.Z and Pf H2B.Z are deacetylated by class I or II HDACs. Acetylated Pf H2A.Z and Pf H2B.Z are also dynamically associated with promoter activity of both canonical upstream var gene promoters and var gene introns. These findings suggest that both acetylated Pf H2A.Z and Pf H2B.Z play critical roles in gene expression and contribute to maintenance of chromatin structure at the boundaries of subtelomeric, facultative heterochromatin, critical for the variegated expression of genes that enable rapid adaptation to altered host environments.

Authors with CRIS profile

Myriam Grotz Institute of Microbiology – Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene Kapil Pareek Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsimmunologie Michaela Petter Institute of Microbiology – Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene

Involved external institutions

The University of Melbourne AU Australia (AU) Deakin University AU Australia (AU) Harvey Mudd College US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Azizan, S., Selvarajah, S.A., Tang, J., Jeninga, M., Schulz, D., Pareek, K.,... Duffy, M.F. (2023). The P. falciparum alternative histones Pf H2A.Z and Pf H2B.Z are dynamically acetylated and antagonized by PfSir2 histone deacetylases at heterochromatin boundaries. mBio, 14(6). https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02014-23

MLA:

Azizan, Suffian, et al. "The P. falciparum alternative histones Pf H2A.Z and Pf H2B.Z are dynamically acetylated and antagonized by PfSir2 histone deacetylases at heterochromatin boundaries." mBio 14.6 (2023).

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