We would like to thank Dr. Wesley Wang for laying the groundwork for this protocol and his valuable mentorship.&#160;This work was partially supported by National Institutes of Health (Grants R01GM127575 and R01GM121584) and Welch Foundation (Grant A-1715).

1.&#160;Plasmid construction
<ol>
	<li>Begin by deciding which histone protein will be acetylated and at which lysine site. Mutate the site to the amber stop codon (TAG) using site directed mutagenesis. 
	&#8203;NOTE: There are four previously designed plasmids utilized for expression of histone proteins. All four histone proteins were cloned into the pETDuet-1 vector with an N-terminal histidine tag. Histone H4 also includes a SUMO tag, the origin of replication colE1 with a copy number of approximately ...

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	<li>Srinivasan, G., James, C. M., Krzycki, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pyrrolysine+encoded+by+UAG+in+Archaea:+Charging+of+a+UAG-Decoding+specialized+tRNA.">Pyrrolysine encoded by UAG in Archaea: Charging of a UAG-Decoding specialized tRNA.</a> Science. 296 (5572), 1459-1462 (2002).</li><li>Wan, W., Tharp, J. M., Liu, W. 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R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sirtuins+1+and+2+are+universal+histone+deacetylases.">Sirtuins 1 and 2 are universal histone deacetylases.</a> ACS Chemical Biology. 11 (3), 792-799 (2016).</li><li>Wang, W. W., Zeng, Y., Wu, B., Deiters, A., Liu, W. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+chemical+biology+approach+to+reveal+Sirt6-targeted+histone+H3+sites+in+nucleosomes.">A chemical biology approach to reveal Sirt6-targeted histone H3 sites in nucleosomes.</a> ACS Chemical Biology. 11 (7), 1973-1981 (2016).</li><li>Wang, W. W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+click+chemistry+approach+reveals+the+chromatin-dependent+histone+H3K36+deacylase+nature+of+SIRT7.">A click chemistry approach reveals the chromatin-dependent histone H3K36 deacylase nature of SIRT7.</a> Journal of the American Chemical Society. 141 (6), 2462-2473 (2019).</li><li>Liu, H., Naismith, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+efficient+one-step+site-directed+deletion,+insertion,+single+and+multiple-site+plasmid+mutagenesis+protocol.">An efficient one-step site-directed deletion, insertion, single and multiple-site plasmid mutagenesis protocol.</a> BMC Biotechnology. 8 (1), 91 (2008).</li><li>Young, T. S., Ahmad, I., Yin, J. A., Schultz, P. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+enhanced+system+for+unnatural+amino+acid+mutagenesis+in+E.+coli.">An enhanced system for unnatural amino acid mutagenesis in E. coli.</a> Journal of Molecular Biology. 395 (2), 361-374 (2010).</li><li>Gallego-Jara, J., &#201;cija Conesa, A., de Diego Puente, T., Lozano Terol, G., C&#225;novas D&#237;az, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+CobB+kinetics+and+inhibition+by+nicotinamide.">Characterization of CobB kinetics and inhibition by nicotinamide.</a> PLoS One. 12 (12), 0189689 (2017).</li><li>Lowary, P. T., Widom, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=New+DNA+sequence+rules+for+high+affinity+binding+to+histone+octamer+and+sequence-directed+nucleosome+positioning.">New DNA sequence rules for high affinity binding to histone octamer and sequence-directed nucleosome positioning.</a> Journal of Molecular Biology. 276 (1), 19-42 (1998).</li><li>Zhao, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+molecular+basis+of+tight+nuclear+tethering+and+inactivation+of+cGAS.">The molecular basis of tight nuclear tethering and inactivation of cGAS.</a> Nature. 587 (7835), 673-677 (2020).</li><li>Burdette, D. L., Vance, R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=STING+and+the+innate+immune+response+to+nucleic+acids+in+the+cytosol.">STING and the innate immune response to nucleic acids in the cytosol.</a> Nature Immunology. 14 (1), 19-26 (2013).</li><li>Barber, G. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Innate+immune+DNA+sensing+pathways:+STING,+AIMII+and+the+regulation+of+interferon+production+and+inflammatory+responses.">Innate immune DNA sensing pathways: STING, AIMII and the regulation of interferon production and inflammatory responses.</a> Current Opinion in Immunology. 23 (1), 10-20 (2011).</li><li>Ablasser, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=cGAS+produces+a+2'-5'-linked+cyclic+dinucleotide+second+messenger+that+activates+STING.">cGAS produces a 2'-5'-linked cyclic dinucleotide second messenger that activates STING.</a> Nature. 498 (7454), 380-384 (2013).</li><li>Gao, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cyclic+[G(2',5')pA(3',5')p]+is+the+metazoan+second+messenger+produced+by+DNA-activated+cyclic+GMP-AMP+synthase.">Cyclic [G(2',5')pA(3',5')p] is the metazoan second messenger produced by DNA-activated cyclic GMP-AMP synthase.</a> Cell. 153 (5), 1094-1107 (2013).</li><li>Zhao, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+conserved+PLPLRT/SD+motif+of+STING+mediates+the+recruitment+and+activation+of+TBK1.">A conserved PLPLRT/SD motif of STING mediates the recruitment and activation of TBK1.</a> Nature. 569 (7758), 718-722 (2019).</li></ol>

It is essential to follow this protocol in every detail during an experiment. Nucleosomes are not very stable and much trial and error has gone into determining this protocol. It is key to remove precipitates at every step (or whenever observed) because particulates can easily interfere with the assembling processes. Always keep histone samples on ice. If nucleosomes are stored at 4 &#176;C for too long, they can spontaneously disassemble. Be sure to check any samples by Native PAGE if stored at 4 &#176;C for more than 2...

We have utilized PylRS and tRNAPyl to synthesize and assemble reconstituted mononucleosomes with site specific acetylated histones. PylRS has proven invaluable as a genetic code expansion tool to produce proteins with post translational modifications (PTMs) and has been genetically evolved to incorporate about 200 different ncAAs. PylRS incorporates at an amber stop codon, removing competition from other amino acids during translation. PylRS was first discovered in methanogenic archaea, and has since been utilized in chemical biology to incorporate novel reactive chemical groups into proteins1,2.
MmAcKRS1 was evolved from Methanosarcina mazei PylRS and frequently used in our laboratory for the synthesis of acetylated proteins3,4,5,6. MmAcKRS1 delivers AcK at an amber mutation site in the mRNA of choice during translation in Escherichia coli. This technique has been previously used to incorporate AcK at K4, K9, K14, K18, K23, K27, K36, K56, K64, and K79 histone H3 lysine sites to study the activity of Sirtuin 1, 2, 6, and 7 on acetylated mononucleosomes4,5,6. Here we detail this method to express acetylated histones and reconstitute acetylated nucleosomes.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>0.5 M TE Buffer</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>0.5 M NaCl, 20 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1 M TE Buffer</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>1 M NaCl, 20 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>100x TE Buffer</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2 M TE Buffer</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>2 M NaCl, 20 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>20 mM TE Buffer</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>20 mM NaCl, 20 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6 M GuHCl</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>6M guanidinium chloride, 20 mM Tris, 500 mM NaCl, pH 8.0</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetyllysine</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Column Wash Buffer</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>6 M urea, 500 mM NaCl, 20 mM Tris, 20 mM imidazole pH 7.8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Elution Buffer</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fisherbrand&#160;Variable-Flow Chemical Transfer Pump</td>
			<td>Fischer Scientific</td>
			<td>15-077-67</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>His-TEV protease</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Histone Lysis Buffer</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>60 mM Tris, 100 mM NaCl, 0.5% Triton-X100 (v/v), 1 mM PMSF pH 8.0</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ni-NTA Resin</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>6 M urea, 500 mM NaCl, 20 mM Tris, 250 mM imidazole, pH 7.8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PCR Clean-Up Kit</td>
			<td>Epoch Life Sicences</td>
			<td>2360050</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pellet Wash Buffer</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>60 mM Tris, 100 mM NaCl, pH 8.0</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>petDUET-His-SUMO-TEV-H4</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>petDUET-His-TEV-H2A</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>petDUET-His-TEV-H2B</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>petDUET-His-TEV-H3</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pEVOL-AckRS</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>137976</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pGEM-3z/601</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>26656</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Storage Buffer</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>20 mM NaCl, 20 mM Tris, 20 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 20% glycerol, pH 7.8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thermocycler</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

site specific lysine acetylation of histones for nucleosome reconstitution using genetic code expansion in escherichia coli

Acetylated histone proteins can be easily expressed in Escherichia coli encoding a mutant, N&#949;-acetyl-lysine (AcK)-specific Methanosarcina mazi pyrrolysine tRNA-synthetase (MmAcKRS1) and its cognate tRNA (tRNAPyl) to assemble reconstituted mononucleosomes with site specific acetylated histones. MmAcKRS1 and tRNAPyl deliver AcK at an amber mutation site in the mRNA of choice during translation in Escherichia coli. This technique has been used extensively to incorporate AcK at H3 lysine sites. Pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS) can also be easily evolved to incorporate other noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) for site specific protein modification or functionalization. Here we detail a method to incorporate AcK using the MmAcKRS1 system into histone H3 and integrate acetylated H3 proteins into reconstituted mononucleosomes. Acetylated reconstituted mononucleosomes can be used in biochemical and binding assays, structure determination, and more. Obtaining modified mononucleosomes is crucial for designing experiments related to discovering new interactions and understanding epigenetics.

Dimers, tetramers, and octamers can be assessed by running a 12% SDS PAGE gel (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Here you can see that some of the acetylated tetramers have a lower yield than others (Figure 1). In fact, the closer to the core region, the lower the yield observed. This is most likely due to the acetylation interfering with the assembling of the tetramer the closer you get to the core regions. A...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Site Specific Lysine Acetylation of Histones for Nucleosome Reconstitution using Genetic Code Expansion in Escherichia coli at JoVE.com

Site Specific Lysine Acetylation of Histones for Nucleosome Reconstitution using Genetic Code Expansion in Escherichia coli

Here we present a method to express acetylated histone proteins using genetic code expansion and assemble reconstituted nucleosomes in vitro.

Site Specific Lysine Acetylation of Histones for Nucleosome Reconstitution using Genetic Code Expansion in Escherichia coli

Acetylated histone proteins can be easily expressed in Escherichia coli encoding a mutant, N&#949;-acetyl-lysine (AcK)-specific Methanosarcina mazi ...