The yeast SWR1 complex exchanges histone H2A in nucleosomes with Htz1 (H2A.Z in humans). The cryo–electron microscopy structure of the SWR1 complex bound to a nucleosome at 3.6-angstrom resolution reveals details of the intricate interactions between components of the SWR1 complex and its nucleosome substrate. Interactions between the Swr1 motor domains and the DNA wrap at superhelical location 2 distort the DNA, causing a bulge with concomitant translocation of the DNA by one base pair, coupled to conformational changes of the histone core. Furthermore, partial unwrapping of the DNA from the histone core takes place upon binding of nucleosomes to SWR1 complex. The unwrapping, as monitored by single-molecule data, is stabilized and has its dynamics altered by adenosine triphosphate binding but does not require hydrolysis.

Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is the main source of energy in eukaryotic cells. This process is performed by means of electron flow between four enzymes, of which three are proton pumps, in the inner mitochondrial membrane. The energy accumulated in the proton gradient over the inner membrane is utilized for ATP synthesis by a fifth OXPHOS complex, ATP synthase. Four of the OXPHOS protein complexes associate into stable entities called respiratory supercomplexes. This review summarises the current view on the arrangement of the electron transport chain in mitochondrial cristae. The functional role of the supramolecular organisation of the OXPHOS system and the factors that stabilise such organisation are highlighted. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Dynamic and ultrastructure of bioenergetic membranes and their components.

ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complexes, such as RSC, can reposition, evict or restructure nucleosomes. A structure of a RSC-nucleosome complex with a nucleosome determined by cryo-EM shows the nucleosome bound in a central RSC cavity. Extensive interaction of RSC with histones and DNA seems to destabilize the nucleosome and lead to an overall ATP-independent rearrangement of its structure. Nucleosomal DNA appears disordered and largely free to bulge out into solution as required for remodeling, but the structure of the RSC-nucleosome complex indicates that RSC is unlikely to displace the octamer from the nucleosome to which it is bound. Consideration of the RSC-nucleosome structure and published biochemical information suggests that ATP-dependent DNA translocation by RSC may result in the eviction of histone octamers from adjacent nucleosomes.The mobilization of nucleosomes is a prerequisite for DNA transactions. Nucleosomes are repeatedly removed and reassembled in promoter regions, resulting in transient exposure of the DNA for interaction with the transcription machinery 1,2 . Chromatin modification is also essential in the process of double-strand break repair 3 . The prime candidates for nucleosome removal are the SWI/SNF family of chromatin-remodeling complexes, which relieve repression by nucleosomes in vivo and perturb nucleosome structure in an ATP-dependent manner in vitro.Whereas SWI and SNF genes are nonessential in yeast, and their protein products are present at low levels, homologs of these genes encode the components of the essential, abundant RSC complex 4 . Biochemical and structural studies of RSC have illuminated the chromatinremodeling process. RSC binds a nucleosome core particle with nanomolar affinity 5 and reduces digestion of nucleosomal DNA by nucleases 6 . A three-dimensional reconstruction of RSC calculated from EM images of single particles preserved in stain revealed a cavity able to accommodate a nucleosome and likely to afford the observed nuclease protection 6 . Addition of ATP to a RSC-nucleosome complex leads to sliding of the histone octamer along the DNA 7 or to transfer of the octamer, either to a histone chaperone 8 or to another DNA molecule 9 . The underlying principle of these activities 10 is the coupling of ATP hydrolysis to

We have used electron microscopy (EM) and biochemistry to characterize the structure and nucleosome core particle (NCP) interaction of NuA4, an essential yeast histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complex conserved throughout eukaryotes. The ATM-related Tra1 subunit, shared with the SAGA coactivator, forms a large domain joined to a second portion that accommodates the Piccolo catalytic subcomplex and other NuA4 subunits. EM analysis of an NuA4–NCP complex shows the NCP bound at NuA4's periphery. EM characterization of Piccolo and Piccolo–NCP provided further information about subunit organization and confirmed that histone acetylation requires minimal contact with the NCP. A small conserved region at the N-terminus of Piccolo subunit Epl1 is essential for NCP interaction, whereas subunit Yng2 apparently positions Piccolo for efficient acetylation of H4 or H2A tails. Taken together, these results provide an understanding of NuA4 subunit organization and NCP interactions.