We did functional characterisation of Drosophila melanogaster linker histone, dH1. In the mutant state for this protein, we observed structural changes in polytene chromosomes chromocenter and nucleoli of mutant larvae. In addition, we performed a microarray analysis in H1 mutant background in order to determine contribution of dH1 to gene expression regulation. We determined effects of dH1 loss in different types of chromatin and we identified groups of differentially expressed (DE) genes, groups in sense of physical clusters of genes and genomic elements rather than groups of functionally related genes. We found that dH1 affects in greater extent expression of heterochromatin genes compared to its effect on euchromatin genes; that dH1 regulates transcription in a regional manner, since the genes physically nearest to the most DE genes tend to be upregulated as well; and that dH1 is negatively regulating expression of transposable elements and members of certain gene families. In addition, we found that dH1 is necessary for preserving genome stability. Among DE transposable elements we detected R1 and R2 retrotransposons, elements that are integrating specifically in rRNA locus. We showed that activation of their transcription is also upregulating expression of aberrant, transposon-inserted, rDNA units of the locus. In this regard we observed an accumulation of extra-chromosomal rDNA circles, increased γ-H2Av content, stop in cell proliferation and activation of apoptosis. Altogether, these results are revealing so far unknown role of histone H1 in preserving genome stability and its effects on cell proliferation.

At least eleven histone H1 variants exist in mammalian somatic cells that bind to the linker DNA and stabilize the nucleosome particle contributing to higher order chromatin compaction. In addition of playing a structural role, H1 seems to be involved in the activation and repression of gene expression. It is not well known whether the different variants have specific roles or regulate specific promoters. We have explored this by inducible shRNA-mediated knock-down of each of the H1 variants in a human breast cancer cell line. Rapid inhibition of each H1 variant was not compensated by changes of expression of other variants. A different, reduced subset of genes is altered in each H1 knock-down. Interestingly, H1.2 depletion represses expression of a number of cell cycle genes. This is concomitant with a G1 arrest phenotype observed in this cell line. In addition, H1.2 depletion caused decreased global nucleosome spacing. These effects are specific of H1.2 depletion as they are not complemented by overexpression of other variants and they do not occur in knock-downs for the other variants. Moreover, H1.4 depletion caused cell death in T47D, being the first report of the essentiality of an H1 variant for survival in a human cell type. In addition to this, we have also investigated specificities of H1 subtypes location in particular promoters of interest in our laboratory, as well as specific interactions with other factors by generating HA-tagged H1 variant expressing cell lines. / Al menos once variantes de la histona H1 han sido identificadas en mamíferos, todas ellas se unen al ADN entre nucleosomas contribuyendo así, a la estabilización de la partícula nucleosómica y a la compactación de la cromatina en estructuras de alto orden. Además de jugar un papel estructural, H1 parece estar implicada en la activación y represión de la expresión génica. Se desconoce si las diferentes variantes de H1 tienen funciones específicas o regulan promotores específicos. Con el objetivo de investigar esta hipótesis se han generado líneas celulares que inhiben de forma inducible, mediante la tecnología de ARN interferente, la expresión de cada una de las variantes de forma específica. La inhibición de cada una de las variantes no es compensada por cambios en la expresión del resto de subtipos. Distintos grupos de genes resultan alterados con la depleción de cada una de las variantes de H1. La inhibición de H1.2 reprime la expresión de una serie de genes de ciclo celular, correlacionando con un fenotipo de arresto celular en fase G1 observado en esta línea. Además, la inhibición de H1.2 causa una disminución global del espaciamiento entre nucleosomas. Todos estos efectos parecen ser específicos para la falta de H1.2 ya que no son complementados por la sobreexpresión de otras variantes. Por otro lado, la inhibición de H1.4 causa muerte celular en T47D. Ésta es la primera vez que se describe que una variante de H1 es esencial para la supervivencia de una línea celular humana.En un segundo plano, se han construido líneas celulares con expresión de las variantes de H1 fusionadas al péptido HA, con el objetivo de estudiar la especificidad de su localización en promotores de interés para el grupo, así como interacciones específicas con otros factores celulares.