Bromodomain-containing subunits BRD1, BRD2, and BRD13 are required for proper functioning of SWI/SNF complexes in Arabidopsis

• DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2021.100174
• Publication Date: 2021-03-07T20:34:40Z
• Authors: Kamila Jarończyk; Katarzyna Sosnowska; Adam Zaborowski; Piotr Pupel; Maria Bucholc; Ewelina Małecka; Nina Siwirykow; Paulina Stachula; Roksana Iwanicka-...; Marta Koblowska; Andrzej Jerzmanowski; Rafał Archacki
• Keywords: DNA-Binding Proteins; 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Protein Domains; Arabidopsis Proteins; Arabidopsis; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; Research Article

SWI/SNF chromatin remodelers are evolutionarily conserved multiprotein complexes that use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to change chromatin structure. A characteristic feature of SWI/SNF remodelers is the occurrence in both the catalytic ATPase subunit and some auxiliary subunits, of bromodomains, the protein motifs capable of binding acetylated histones. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis bromodomain-containing proteins BRD1, BRD2, and BRD13 are likely true SWI/SNF subunits that interact with the core SWI/SNF components SWI3C and SWP73B. Loss of function of each single BRD protein caused early flowering but had a negligible effect on other developmental pathways. By contrast, a brd triple mutation (brdx3) led to more pronounced developmental abnormalities, indicating functional redundancy among the BRD proteins. The brdx3 phenotypes, including hypersensitivity to abscisic acid and the gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol, resembled those of swi/snf mutants. Furthermore, the BRM protein level and occupancy at the direct target loci SCL3, ABI5, and SVP were reduced in the brdx3 mutant background. Finally, a brdx3 brm-3 quadruple mutant, in which SWI/SNF complexes were devoid of all constituent bromodomains, phenocopied a loss-of-function mutation in BRM. Taken together, our results demonstrate the relevance of BRDs as SWI/SNF subunits and suggest their cooperation with the bromodomain of BRM ATPase.