Punit Prasad

Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL, USA

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Publications (7)101.23 Total impact

  • Article: ISWI Remodelers Slide Nucleosomes with Coordinated Multi-Base-Pair Entry Steps and Single-Base-Pair Exit Steps
    Cell 01/2013; 152(3):442-452. · 32.40 Impact Factor
  • Article: ISWI Remodelers Slide Nucleosomes with Coordinated Multi-Base-Pair Entry Steps and Single-Base-Pair Exit Steps.
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    ABSTRACT: ISWI-family enzymes remodel chromatin by sliding nucleosomes along DNA, but the nucleosome translocation mechanism remains unclear. Here we use single-molecule FRET to probe nucleosome translocation by ISWI-family remodelers. Distinct ISWI-family members translocate nucleosomes with a similar stepping pattern maintained by the catalytic subunit of the enzyme. Nucleosome remodeling begins with a 7 bp step of DNA translocation followed by 3 bp subsequent steps toward the exit side of nucleosomes. These multi-bp, compound steps are comprised of 1 bp substeps. DNA movement on the entry side of the nucleosome occurs only after 7 bp of exit-side translocation, and each entry-side step draws in a 3 bp equivalent of DNA that allows three additional base pairs to be moved to the exit side. Our results suggest a remodeling mechanism with well-defined coordination at different nucleosomal sites featuring DNA translocation toward the exit side in 1 bp steps preceding multi-bp steps of DNA movement on the entry side.
    Cell 01/2013; 152(3):442-52. · 32.40 Impact Factor
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    Article: Disparity in the DNA translocase domains of SWI/SNF and ISW2.
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    ABSTRACT: An ATP-dependent DNA translocase domain consisting of seven conserved motifs is a general feature of all ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers. While motifs on the ATPase domains of the yeast SWI/SNF and ISWI families of remodelers are highly conserved, the ATPase domains of these complexes appear not to be functionally interchangeable. We found one reason that may account for this is the ATPase domains interact differently with nucleosomes even though both associate with nucleosomal DNA 17-18 bp from the dyad axis. The cleft formed between the two lobes of the ISW2 ATPase domain is bound to nucleosomal DNA and Isw2 associates with the side of nucleosomal DNA away from the histone octamer. The ATPase domain of SWI/SNF binds to the same region of nucleosomal DNA, but is bound outside of the cleft region. The catalytic subunit of SWI/SNF also appears to intercalate between the DNA gyre and histone octamer. The altered interactions of SWI/SNF with DNA are specific to nucleosomes and do not occur with free DNA. These differences are likely mediated through interactions with the histone surface. The placement of SWI/SNF between the octamer and DNA could make it easier to disrupt histone-DNA interactions.
    Nucleic Acids Research 01/2012; 40(10):4412-21. · 8.03 Impact Factor
  • Article: Mapping protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions of ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers.
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    ABSTRACT: Chromatin plays a key regulatory role in several DNA-dependent processes as it regulates DNA access to different protein factors. Several multisubunit protein complexes interact, modify, or mobilize nucleosomes: the basic unit of chromatin, from its original location in an ATP-dependent manner to facilitate processes, such as transcription, replication, repair, and recombination. Knowledge of the interactions of chromatin remodelers with nucleosomes is a crucial requirement to understand the mechanism of chromatin remodeling. Here, we describe several methods to analyze the interactions of multisubunit chromatin-remodeling enzymes with nucleosomes.
    Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) 01/2012; 809:381-409.
  • Article: New insights into how chromatin remodellers direct CENP-A to centromeres.
    Punit Prasad, Karl Ekwall
    The EMBO Journal 05/2011; 30(10):1875-6. · 9.20 Impact Factor
  • Article: Control of nucleosome movement: to space or not to space nucleosomes?
    Punit Prasad, Blaine Bartholomew
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    ABSTRACT: A key feature of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes is how they control the ability of the complex to translocate along DNA within the context of a nucleosome. Although these complexes generally initiate DNA translocation near the dyad axis of the nucleosome, the progression and eventual termination is regulated in quite distinct ways. The best studied examples of these are the ISWI type which has strong extranucleosomal DNA dependent activity or the SWI/SNF type which has no linker DNA requirement. Recent data provide insights into the mechanism of regulation of DNA translocation by the ISWI type complexes and how the structure of the ISWI-nucleosome complex changes during chromatin remodeling.
    Epigenetics: official journal of the DNA Methylation Society 05/2010; 5(4):282-6. · 4.58 Impact Factor
  • Article: Conformational changes associated with template commitment in ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling by ISW2.
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    ABSTRACT: Distinct stages in ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling are found as ISW2, an ISWI-type complex, forms a stable and processive complex with nucleosomes upon hydrolysis of ATP. There are two conformational changes of the ISW2-nucleosome complex associated with binding and hydrolysis of ATP. The initial binding of ISW2 to extranucleosomal DNA, to the entry site, and near the dyad axis of the nucleosome is enhanced by ATP binding, whereas subsequent ATP hydrolysis is required for template commitment and causes ISW2 to expand its interactions with nucleosomal DNA to an entire gyre of the nucleosome and a short approximately 3-4 bp site on the other gyre. The histone-fold-like subunit Dpb4 associates with nucleosomal DNA approximately 15 bp from the ATPase domain as part of this change and may help to disrupt histone-DNA interactions. These additional contacts are independent of the ATPase domain tracking along nucleosomal DNA and are maintained as ISW2 moves nucleosomes on DNA.
    Molecular cell 08/2009; 35(1):58-69. · 14.61 Impact Factor