Multistate structures of the MLL1-WRAD complex bound to H2B-ubiquitinated nucleosome

Sanim Rahman, Niklas A. Hoffmann, Evan J. Worden, Marissa L. Smith, Kevin E.W. Namitz, Bruce A. Knutson, Michael S. Cosgrove, Cynthia Wolberger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The human Mixed Lineage Leukemia-1 (MLL1) complex methylates histone H3K4 to promote transcription and is stimulated by monoubiquitination of histone H2B. Recent structures of the MLL1-WRAD core complex, which comprises the MLL1 methyltransferase, WDR5, RbBp5, Ash2L, and DPY-30, have revealed variability in the docking of MLL1-WRAD on nucleosomes. In addition, portions of the Ash2L structure and the position of DPY30 remain ambiguous. We used an integrated approach combining cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) and mass spectrometry cross-linking to determine a structure of the MLL1-WRAD complex bound to ubiquitinated nucleosomes. The resulting model contains the Ash2L intrinsically disordered region (IDR), SPRY insertion region, Sdc1-DPY30 interacting region (SDI-motif), and the DPY30 dimer. We also resolved three additional states of MLL1-WRAD lacking one or more subunits, which may reflect different steps in the assembly of MLL1-WRAD. The docking of subunits in all four states differs from structures of MLL1-WRAD bound to unmodified nucleosomes, suggesting that H2B-ubiquitin favors assembly of the active complex. Our results provide a more complete picture of MLL1-WRAD and the role of ubiquitin in promoting formation of the active methyltransferase complex.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere2205691119
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume119
Issue number38
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 20 2022

Keywords

  • MLL1
  • chromatin
  • cryo-EM
  • methyltransferase
  • ubiquitin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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