Abstract
Histone lysine methylation has been linked to the recruitment of mammalian DNA repair factor 53BP1 and putative fission yeast homolog Crb2 to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), but how histone recognition is achieved has not been established. Here we demonstrate that this link occurs through direct binding of 53BP1 and Crb2 to histone H4. Using X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we show that, despite low amino acid sequence conservation, both 53BP1 and Crb2 contain tandem tudor domains that interact with histone H4 specifically dimethylated at Lys20 (H4-K20me2). The structure of 53BP1/H4-K20me2 complex uncovers a unique five-residue 53BP1 binding cage, remarkably conserved in the structure of Crb2, that best accommodates a dimethyllysine but excludes a trimethyllysine, thus explaining the methylation state-specific recognition of H4-K20. This study reveals an evolutionarily conserved molecular mechanism of targeting DNA repair proteins to DSBs by direct recognition of H4-K20me2.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Binding Sites
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Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
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Carrier Proteins / genetics
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Carrier Proteins / metabolism
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Chromatin / chemistry
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Chromatin / metabolism
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Conserved Sequence
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Crystallography, X-Ray
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DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
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DNA Repair*
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Histones / chemistry
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Histones / metabolism*
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Humans
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / chemistry*
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
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Lysine
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Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
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Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism
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Methylation
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Mutation
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Phosphoproteins / chemistry*
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Phosphoproteins / metabolism
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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Tandem Repeat Sequences
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Tumor Suppressor p53-Binding Protein 1
Substances
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CRB2 protein, human
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Carrier Proteins
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Chromatin
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Histones
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Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Membrane Proteins
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Phosphoproteins
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TP53BP1 protein, human
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Tumor Suppressor p53-Binding Protein 1
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Lysine