Biology subjects

Hopfner, K.-P.

Publications and source records attributed to Hopfner, K.-P..

10 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

The diverse functions of viral microproteins

A large fraction of the uncharacterized proteome consists of microproteins. Viruses, rich in microproteins with potent activities, provide a unique system for exploring their functions and evolution. Here, we systematically annotate viral microproteins through a phenotype-first approach: construction of a >50,000-element small ORF library spanning the microprotein-coding potential of human-infecting viruses, followed by broad screens that enrich candidates for high-resolution profiling by Perturb-seq, mass spectrometry, AI-guided structure prediction, and mechanistic studies. This atlas identified >2,000 active microproteins that modulate host pathways through diverse mechanisms, including molecular mimicry, hijacking of key regulators, and altering subcellular localization. We further show the oncogenic potential of BNLF2b, an uncharacterized Epstein-Barr virus microprotein linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Three principles emerge: viral microproteins are diverse and often multifunctional, show widespread convergence toward shared functions, and serve as reservoirs of evolutionary innovation. These findings elucidate how viral microproteins occupy a large functional landscape, establish them as versatile tools for host manipulation, and provide a framework for functional annotation of uncharacterized proteins, contributing toward predictive systems virology.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Sequence-dependent binding modes of INO80 control +1 nucleosome positioning

Cellular self-organisation counteracts entropy at the expenditure of energy. In case of the first level of nuclear DNA organisation, this relates to regular nucleosome arrays and interspaced nucleosome-depleted regions (NDRs), for example at promoters or replication origins1-5. The organisation of nucleosomes as building blocks of chromatin is orchestrated by the collective activities of ATP-dependent chromatin remodellers6-9. Yet, how remodellers achieve positional specificity, in particular regarding the promoter-proximal +1 nucleosomes, remains unclear. Here, we show that the S. cerevisiae chromatin remodeller INO80 unexpectedly distinguishes DNA sequence asymmetry within the +1 nucleosome of the SWH1 gene through distinct inhibited and active nucleosome-binding modes. In structural and biochemical analyses of INO80 on nucleosomes with the endogenous sequence, we identified an inhibited binding mode where the entire INO80 remodelling unit flipped on the +1 nucleosome. INO80 adopted this remodelling-incompetent binding mode when facing the promoter, but a remodelling-competent mode when facing the gene body. This directional read-out of intra-nucleosomal DNA sequence asymmetry, together with extranucleosomal NDR sequence features, prevented nucleosome sliding into the NDR while permitting array formation over the gene. Our work shows how DNA features contribute to ATP-dependent self-organisation of promoter chromatin by INO80.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2026

Scaling the Dynamics of Coiled Coils

Coiled coils are structural motifs in proteins that play diverse functions. In MRE11-RAD50 (MR) complexes, ATP-driven changes in coiled coils are essential for DNA break sensing. However, coiled coil dynamics and its modulation by protein conformational changes remain unclear, partly due to the lack of quantitative tools. Here, we used high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) for real-time visualization of the coiled coil conformational dynamics of individual MR complexes from bacteria and human homologs, and a biomedically relevant variant. The mean square deviation of the end-to-end distance of the coiled coils revealed a power-law scaling with time, conserved across conformational states, homologs, and variants, suggesting a universal dynamic scaling. Coiled coils behave as semi-flexible filaments with strong internal friction, leading to relaxation times that were seconds-long and varied among conformational states and variants. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that strong friction arose from long-lifetime contacts between coils. Our results suggest that MR complexes modulate the coiled coil dynamics to mediate long-range allosteric and allodynamic communication during DNA repair.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2025

Recognition and remodelling of nucleosomes and hexasomes by the human INO80 complex

The ATP-dependent INO80 chromatin remodeller slides and repositions nucleosomes to shape and maintain chromatin around gene regulatory elements and replication origins. Recent work uncovered capabilities of yeast and fungal INO80 to bind and slide hexasomes, but whether this is a universal feature is unknown. Here, we show that also human INO80 slides hexasomes as efficiently as H2A and H2A.Z nucleosomes. By determining a variety of structures of human INO80 bound to canonical and H2A.Z nucleosomes as well as hexasomes, we reveal a predominantly topological sensing of nucleosomal species with at least three positions depending on entry DNA unwrapping. INO80 spin-rotates around the wheel like nucleosomal core particle, with the position determined by the Snf2 ATPase that binds the tangentially protruding entry DNA at various degrees of unwrapping. Acidic patch binding by IES2 can differentiate between different nucleosomal species, is important for nucleosome but not hexasome sliding, and can sense unwrapped exit DNA. These findings provide structural and mechanistic insights into how human INO80 remodels diverse chromatin substrates in a topology driven manner.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

Chromatin Protection by the Chromosomal Passenger Complex

The chromosomal passenger complex (CPC; Borealin-Survivin-INCENP-Aurora B kinase) ensures accurate chromosome segregation by orchestrating sister chromatid cohesion, error-correction of kinetochore-microtubule attachments and spindle assembly checkpoint. Correct spatiotemporal regulation of CPC localization is critical for its function. Phosphorylations of Histone H3 Thr3 and Histone H2A Thr120 and modification-independent nucleosome interactions involving Survivin and Borealin contribute to CPC centromere enrichment. However, mechanistic basis for how various nucleosome binding elements collectively contribute to CPC centromere enrichment and whether CPC has any non-catalytic role at centromere remain open questions. Combining a high-resolution cryoEM structure of CPC-bound H3Thr3ph nucleosome with atomic force microscopy and biochemical and cellular assays, we demonstrate that CPC employs multipartite interactions involving both static and dynamic interactions, which facilitate its engagement at nucleosome acidic patch and DNA entry-exit site. Perturbing the CPC-nucleosome interaction compromises protection against MNase digestion in vitro, as well as the dynamic centromere association of CPC and centromeric chromatin stability in cells. Our work provides a mechanistic basis for the previously unexplained non-catalytic role of CPC in maintaining centromeric chromatin critical for kinetochore function.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

Structural basis for DNA double-strand break sensing by human MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 and its TRF2 complex

The MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex is a central, multifunctional factor in the detection, signaling and nucleolytic processing of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). To clarify how human MRN binds generic and telomeric DNA ends and can separate DNA end sensing from nuclease activities, we determined cryo-electron microscopy structures of human MRN bound to DNA and to DNA and the telomere protection factor TRF2. MRN senses DSBs through a tight clamp-like sensing state with closed coiled-coil domains, but auto-inhibited MRE11 nuclease. NBS1 wraps around the MRE11 dimer, with NBS1s ATM recruitment motif sequestered by binding to the regulatory RAD50 S site, necessitating an allosteric switch for ATM activation. At telomeric DNA, TRF2 blocks the second S site via the iDDR motif to prevent nuclease and ATM activation. Our results provide a structural framework for topological DNA sensing and separation of sensing, signaling and processing activities of mammalian MRN. Highlights- Human MRN senses DNA ends with an autoinhibited nuclease - NBS1s C-terminus binds one RAD50 S site in the sensing state - TRF2 binds MRNs second S site at telomeres - RAD50 and ATM compete for the NBS1 C-terminus

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2022

Monocyte-derived macrophages aggravate pulmonary vasculitis via cGAS/STING/IFN-mediated nucleic acid sensing

Autoimmune vasculitis is a group of life-threatening diseases, whose underlying pathogenic mechanisms are incompletely understood, hampering development of targeted therapies. Here, we demonstrate that patients suffering from anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) showed increased activity of the DNA sensor cGAS and enhanced IFN-I signature. To identify potential therapeutic targets, we developed a mouse model for pulmonary AAV that mimics severe disease in patients. Immunogenic DNA accumulated during disease onset, triggering cGAS/STING/IRF3-dependent IFN-I release that promoted endothelial damage, pulmonary hemorrhages, and lung dysfunction. Macrophage subsets played dichotomic roles in disease. While recruited monocyte-derived macrophages were major disease drivers by producing most IFN-{beta}, resident alveolar macrophages contributed to tissue homeostasis by clearing red blood cells and limiting infiltration of IFN-{beta}-producing macrophages. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of STING, IFNAR-I or its downstream JAK/STAT signaling reduced disease severity and accelerated recovery. Our study unveils the importance of STING/IFN-I axis in promoting pulmonary AAV progression and identifies cellular and molecular targets to ameliorate disease outcome. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/493983v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (48K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@521964org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@13506org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1403dbeorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@958cc4_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG SummaryKessler et al. identify aberrant DNA recognition by cGAS/STING axis and IFN-I production by inflammatory macrophages as a major driver of severe ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Pharmacological interventions blocking this pathway ameliorate disease and accelerate recovery, identifying potential targets for therapeutic intervention in patients.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Genome information processing by the INO80 chromatin remodeler positions nucleosomes

The fundamental molecular determinants by which ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers organize nucleosomes across eukaryotic genomes remain largely elusive. Here, chromatin reconstitutions on physiological, whole-genome templates reveal how remodelers read and translate genomic information into nucleosome positions. Using the yeast genome and the multi-subunit INO80 remodeler as a paradigm, we identify DNA shape/mechanics encoded signature motifs as sufficient for nucleosome positioning and distinct from known DNA sequence preferences of histones. INO80 processes such information through an allosteric interplay between its core- and Arp8-modules that probes mechanical properties of nucleosomal and linker DNA. At promoters, INO80 integrates this readout of DNA shape/mechanics with a readout of co-evolved sequence motifs via interaction with general regulatory factors bound to these motifs. Our findings establish a molecular mechanism for robust and yet adjustable +1 nucleosome positioning and, more generally, remodelers as information processing hubs that enable active organization and allosteric regulation of the first level of chromatin.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2020

Measuring DNA mechanics on the genome scale

Mechanical deformations of DNA such as bending are ubiquitous and implicated in diverse cellular functions1. However, the lack of high-throughput tools to directly measure the mechanical properties of DNA limits our understanding of whether and how DNA sequences modulate DNA mechanics and associated chromatin transactions genome-wide. We developed an assay called loop-seq to measure the intrinsic cyclizability of DNA - a proxy for DNA bendability - in high throughput. We measured the intrinsic cyclizabilities of 270,806 50 bp DNA fragments that span the entire length of S. cerevisiae chromosome V and other genomic regions, and also include random sequences. We discovered sequence-encoded regions of unusually low bendability upstream of Transcription Start Sites (TSSs). These regions disfavor the sharp DNA bending required for nucleosome formation and are co-centric with known Nucleosome Depleted Regions (NDRs). We show biochemically that low bendability of linker DNA located about 40 bp away from a nucleosome edge inhibits nucleosome sliding into the linker by the chromatin remodeler INO80. The observation explains how INO80 can create promoter-proximal nucleosomal arrays in the absence of any other factors2 by reading the DNA mechanical landscape. We show that chromosome wide, nucleosomes are characterized by high DNA bendability near dyads and low bendability near the linkers. This contrast increases for nucleosomes deeper into gene bodies, suggesting that DNA mechanics plays a previously unappreciated role in organizing nucleosomes far from the TSS, where nucleosome remodelers predominate. Importantly, random substitution of synonymous codons does not preserve this contrast, suggesting that the evolution of codon choice has been impacted by selective pressure to preserve sequence-encoded mechanical modulations along genes. We also provide evidence that transcription through the TSS-proximal nucleosomes is impacted by local DNA mechanics. Overall, this first genome-scale map of DNA mechanics hints at a mechanical code with broad functional implications.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2020

Ruler elements in chromatin remodelers set nucleosome array spacing and phasing

Arrays of regularly spaced nucleosomes dominate chromatin and are often phased by alignment to reference sites like active promoters. How the distances between nucleosomes (spacing), and between phasing sites and nucleosomes are determined remains unclear, and specifically, how ATP dependent chromatin remodelers impact these features. Here, we used genome-wide reconstitution to probe how Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATP dependent remodelers generate phased arrays of regularly spaced nucleosomes. We find that remodelers bear a functional element named the ruler that determines spacing and phasing in a remodeler-specific way. We use structure-based mutagenesis to identify and tune the ruler element residing in the Nhp10 and Arp8 modules of the INO80 remodeler complex. Generally, we propose that a remodeler ruler regulates nucleosome sliding direction bias in response to (epi)genetic information. This finally conceptualizes how remodeler-mediated nucleosome dynamics determine stable steady-state nucleosome positioning relative to other nucleosomes, DNA bound factors, DNA ends and DNA sequence elements.

biochemistry↗