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Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Accurate DNA replication is vital for maintaining genomic stability. Consequently, the machinery required to drive this process is designed to ensure the meticulous maintenance of information. However, random misincorporation of errors reduce the fidelity of the DNA and lead to pre-mature aging and age-related disorders such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Some of the incorporated errors are the result of the error prone DNA polymerase alpha (Pol α), which initiates synthesis on both the leading and lagging strand. Lagging strand synthesis acquires an increased number of polymerase α tracks because of the number of Okazaki fragments synthesized per round of the cell cycle (~50 million in mammalian cells). The accumulation of these errors invariably reduces the fidelity of the genome. Previous work has shown that these pol α tracks can be removed by two redundant pathways referred to as the short and long flap pathway. The long flap pathway utilizes a complex network of proteins to remove more of the misincorporated nucleotides than the short flap pathway which mediates the removal of shorter flaps. Lysine acetylation has been reported to modulate the function of the nucleases implicated in flap processing. The cleavage activity of the long flap pathway nuclease, Dna2, is stimulated by lysine acetylation while conversely lysine acetylation of the short flap pathway nuclease, FEN1, inhibits its activity. The major protein players implicated during Okazaki fragment processing (OFP) are known, however, the choice of the processing pathway and its regulation by lysine acetylation of its main players is yet unknown. This dissertation identifies three main findings: 1) Saccharomyces cerevisiae helicase, petite integration frequency (Pif1) is lysine acetylated by Esa1 and deacetylated by Rpd3 regulating its viability and biochemical properties including helicase, binding and ATPase activity ii) the single stranded DNA binding protein, human replication protein A (RPA) is modified by p300 and this modification stimulates its primary binding function and iii) lysine acetylated human RPA directs OFP towards the long flap pathway even for a subset of short flaps.

C/EBPα und C/EBPβ sind Transkriptionsfaktoren, die die Zellproliferation und Zelldifferenzierung in vielen Geweben regulieren. C/EBPα und C/EBPβ spielen auch eine onkogene Rolle in akuter myeloischer Leukämie und anaplastisch-großzelligen Lymphomen (ALCL). In dieser Studie wird C/EBPα auf neue posttranslationale Modifikationen, wie z. B. Arginin-Methylierungen und Citrullinierungen, sowie Lysin-Methylierungen und Acetylierungen, mit massenspektrometrischen Mitteln untersucht. Es werden eine modifizierbare C/EBPα-Arginin-Citrullinierungsposition und die C/EBPα-Lysinsumoylierung eingehend auf ihren Einfluss auf C/EBPα-Proteininteraktionsnetzwerk überprüft. Außerdem wurde im Verlauf dieser Studie ein Hochdurchsatz-Screening-Verfahren entwickelt, das wir Protein Interaktions-Screening auf einer Peptid Matrix (PrISMa) nennen. Dieses Verfahren dient der Aufklärung des modifikationsabhängigen Proteininteraktionsnetzwerkes von C/EBPβ. PrISMa basiert auf einer Peptidmembran, auf der C/EBPβ-Peptide synthetisiert sind. Viele dieser Peptide enthalten methylierte Arginine und Lysine, acetylierte Lysine, citrullinierte Arginine und phosphorylierte Serine, Tyrosine und Threonine. Mittels PrISMa konnten Interaktionen von C/EBPβ mit Histonacetyltransferasen, dem Mediatorkomplex, Proteinen des nukleären Transports und RNA bindenden und spleißenden Proteinen verifiziert und kartiert werden. Des Weiteren konnte mit Hilfe von PrISMa eine große Anzahl von publizierten C/EBPβ Interaktionspartner spezifischen C/EBPβ-Sequenzen zugeordnet werden. C/EBPβ wird in ALCL in hohem Maße exprimiert und ist für die Zellproliferation dieser Krebsart wichtig. In dieser Studie wird das Proteininteraktionsnetzwerk C/EBPβ in einer ALCL Zelllinie aufgeklärt, um tiefere Einsichten über die Funktion von C/EBPβ als Onkogen zu erlangen. / C/EBPα and C/EBPβ regulate cell proliferation and differentiation in multiple cell types. Moreover, C/EBPα and C/EBPβ are known to play oncogenic roles in acute myeloid leukemia and anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCLs). In this study C/EBPα is screened for novel posttranslational modifications (PTMs), such as arginine methylation and citrullination, as well as lysine methylation and acetylation by using mass spectrometry. A in this survey identified C/EBPα site of arginine citrullination and the C/EBPα lysine sumoylation are scrutinized for their impact on C/EBPα protein interaction network. A new high-throughput method named Protein Interaction Screen on peptide Matrices (PrISMa) is introduced in this study. This method was developed to determine the C/EBPβ protein interaction network in a PTM dependent manner. The PrISMa survey is based on a peptide membrane spotted with C/EBPβ peptides. Many of these C/EBPβ peptide sequences contain amino acid sequences comprising arginine and lysine methylation, lysine acetylation, arginine citrullination and serine, tyrosine and threonine phosphorylation. By means of PrISMa the C/EBPβ interplay with histone acetyltransferases, the mediator complex, proteins of the nucleoplasmic transport and RNA processing proteins is verified and specified by mapping these interactions to C/EBPβ amino acid sequences. Furthermore, PrISMa provides a map of C/EBPβ protein interaction patterns for a great number of the up to date published C/EBPβ protein interaction partners. C/EBPβ is highly expressed in ALCL cell lines and is essential for the cell proliferation of this type of cancer. In this study the C/EBPβ protein-protein interaction pattern in an ALCL cell line is unraveled providing valuable insight into the protein interaction network of C/EBPβ as an oncogene.

Le génôme des cellules eucaryotes est condensé au sein d'une structure complexe hiérarchiquement organisée : la chromatine. La chromatine est composée d'ADN, de protéines histone et non-histone. Cette thèse a pour but d'étudier le rôle de la chromatine dans la réponse cellulaire aux dommages de l'ADN (DDR) par les méthodologies de génomique fonctionnelle et de protéomique. Nous avons tout d'abord analysé les modifications post-traductionnelles (PTM) des histones dans le cadre des pontages inter-brins (ou "Interstrand Crosslinks", ICL), type particulier de lésions de l'ADN, en choisissant le modèle de l'Anémie de Fanconi (FA). Ceci a été réalisé grâce aux techniques de protéomique quantitative SILAC (Stable Isotope Labeling of Amino acid during Cell culture) et de spectrométrie de masse (MS). Nous avons ainsi réussi à identifier et à quantifier de nombreuses PTMs dans les histones H3 et H4, et à démontrer que certaines de ces PTM sont dépendantes d'une voie fonctionnelle de la signalisation de FA. Nous avons également approfondi l'étude des DDR dans les cellules de FA par une approche de génomique fonctionnelle. Pour cela, nous avons analysé le profil l'expression d'enzymes associées à l'acétylation et à la méthylation des histones. Nos résultats suggèrent l'existence de corrélations entre le profil d'expression de ces enzymes et les PTMs des histones. Des études complémentaires sont nécessaires en vue de confirmer ces corrélations. Nous avons également comparé le transcriptome de deux lignées cellulaires de FA (mutée en FANCC et corrigée en FANCC) après induction de dommages à l'ADN. Afin de différencier les changements spécifiquement associés à la voie de signalisation de FA en réponse aux ICL de l'ADN des réponses plus générales aux dommages de l'ADN, nous avons inclus des cellules traitées par rayonnement ionisant. En réalisant une analyse d'interactions factorielles, nous avons pu identifier une réponse transcriptionnelle aux dommages de l'ADN nécessitant une voie fonctionnelle de la signalisation de FA. Nous avons également tenté de pallier aux limitations rencontrées dans l'analyse des PTMs des histones. En effet, les PTMs des histones que nous avons identifiées représentent l'ensemble des modifications, c'est-à-dire les PTMs concernant les histones se trouvant immédiatement à proximité du site du dommage et en relation directe avec celui-ci, et les PTMs se trouvant à distance du dommage et pouvant ne pas être en relation directe avec celui-ci. Les approches courantes pour identifier les PTMs se trouvant à des loci particuliers sont basées sur l'immunoprécipitation classique de la chromatine où l'utilisation de formaldéhyde altère les protéines, ce qui en rend impossible l'analyse par MS. Nous avons proposé une nouvelle méthodologie basée sur la biotinylation expérimentale d'histones situées à proximité d'une protéine particulière, suivie de la purification des nucléosomes contenant ces histones biotinylées. Contrairement àl'immunoprécipiatation classique de la chromatine, cette méthode n'induit pas d'altération des protéines, permettant ainsi de purifier les histones à partir d'un locus spécifique et d'analyser à grande échelle leurs PTMs par MS. Cette approche permet aussi de suivre dans le temps les PTMs d'une fraction des histones juste après leur biotinylation. Enfin, elle présente l'avantage de pouvoir étudier le profil des PTMs de différents états fonctionnels de la chromatine grâce à l'utilisation de variants d'histones. / In eukaryotic cells, the genome is packed into chromatin, a hierarchically organized complex composed of DNA and histone and nonhistone proteins. In this thesis we have addressed the role of chromatin in cellular response to DNA damage (DDR) using various methodologies encompassing functional genomics and proteomics. First, we analyzed histone post-translational modifications (PTM) in the context of specific kind of DNA lesions (ICL-Interstrand Crosslinks) in Fanconi anemia using quantitative proteomics methodology, SILAC (Stable Isotope Labeling of Amino acids during Cell Culture). Using mass spectrometry (MS), we have successfully identified and quantified a number of histone PTM marks in histone H3 and H4, mainly acetylations and methylations,which have shown dependence upon functional FA-pathway. As a next step, we applied a functional genomics approach to study DDR in FA cells. In this analysis we first monitored the expression profile of histone modifying enzymes related to histone acetylations and methylations. Our results suggest some correlations between histone PTMs and gene expression of histone modifying enzymes, although conclusive evidence warrants further investigations. Next, we analyzed the total transcriptome after DNA damage induction in FA mutant and wild type cells. We also included in this analysis IR irradiation, in an attempt to dissociate more generic DDR from more specific changes that are associated with the role of FA pathway to the DNA ICLs. By performing a factorial interaction analysis, we were able to isolate the part of transcriptional response to DNA damage that was requiring functional FA pathway, as well as the genes that were sensitized to DNA damage by the inactivation of FA pathway. In the final part of the thesis, we attempted to solve one of the limitations that we encountered in the histone PTM analysis. The current approaches used to study histone PTMs from particular loci involves classical chromatin immunoprecipitation, which due to involvement of formaldehyde crosslinking render the protein part mostly unavailable for MS-based proteomics. We have proposed a novel methodology, which is based upon the biotin tagging of histones proximal to a protein of interest and subsequent purification of nucleosomes carrying the tagged histone. This methodology does not involve any crosslinking, enabling us to purify histones from specific loci, and subject them to large scale MS-based histone PTM analysis. A time dimension can also be added to our approach, as we can follow the modification status of particular fraction of histones once they get biotinylated. Another advantage is the use of alternate variant histones, which allows us to study the PTM profile of different functional states of chromatin. This methodology certainly has an edge on current techniques to study histone PTMs pattern associated with a particular protein of interest or with particular chromatin state.

L'acétylation des protéines constitue l’une des plus importantes modifications post-traductionnelles (PTMs). Elle intervient dans de multiples processus bologiques et physiopathologiques tels que, l’activité transcriptionnelle, l'apoptose, la régulation des voies métaboliques, les cancers, les maladies inflammatoires et cardiovasculaires. Face à l’importance de l’acétylation des protéines, il apparaît donc indispensable de bien comprendre les mécanismes qui y sont associés, et donc, de pouvoir identifier et quantifier les protéines acétylées à partir du protéome complet d’échantillons complexes tels que des extraits cellulaires ou tissulaires. La spectrométrie de masse est une technique de choix pour de telles études, car elle permet d’identifier les protéines et les sites d’acétylation, mais aussi de les quantifier en l’associant à des techniques de quantification (label free, SILAC, iTRAQ/TMT, AQUA). Malheureusement, ces méthodes ne ciblent pas particulièrement les acétylations et requièrent l’utilisation de techniques d’enrichissement ou de fractionnement qui ne sont dédiées qu’à certains types d’acetylation : les N-ter et K-acetylation. Aucun enrichissement n’est disponible pour les O- acétylations et ces méthodes d’enrichissement ne sont pas toujours compatibles avec les techniques de quantification citées ci-dessus. Pour améliorer la détection et la quantification des acétylations, nous proposons la méthode RAQIAT (Relatif Absolute Quantification Isobaric Affinity Tag) qui se résume en trois grandes étapes: i) Le blocage des fonctions amines libres à l'aide de la di-méthylation réductrice, ceci empêchera ces dernières de réagir avec le réactif RAQIAT, ii) La désacétylation des lysines acétylées pour permettre une quantification sélective des acétylations, iii) Le marquage des amines primaires précédemment désacétylées dans l’étape 2 par le réactif RAQIAT pour permettre leurs identifications et quantifications. Ce manuscrit a porté en partie sur les deux premières étapes de la méthode RAQIAT.Dans la première étape, les échantillons de protéines de levure ont été digérés puis di-méthylés et fractionnés par OFFGEL en 24 fractions. Ensuite, chacune de ces 24 fractions OFFGEL a été soumise à un fractionnement nano-RPLC et analysée par MALDI TOF/TOF (4800 MALDI-TOF/TOF, Sciex). En parallèle, la même expérience a été réalisée, cette fois-ci sans di-méthylation. L'analyse des données a été réalisée en utilisant le logiciel Mascot comme moteur de recherche.L’efficacité de la réaction de di-méthylation démontrée, nous avons montré que sans réaliser la di-méthylation réductrice 164 sites acétylés ont pu été identifiés alors que 385 sites acétylés distincts ont été identifiés avec la di-méthylation réductrice. De plus, l'amélioration de la détection de l'acétylation en utilisant la méthode de di-méthylation a été observée pour chacune des différents types acétylations: N-ter, K- et O-acétylation.Dans la deuxième étape, nous avons présenté des résultats préliminaires de déacétylation par la sirtuine 1 en présence du peptide de la p53 (Ac-Arg-His-Lys-Lys-(Ac)-AMC) connu comme étant un substrat de cette enzyme. Nous avons observé la formation d’un peptide non acétylé, suggérant une déacétylation de ce peptide acétylé de p53. Cependant, la formation de cet ion étant très faible et l’ion acétylé étant fortement préservé, nous en avons conclu que l’efficacité de la déacétylation du peptide de p53 n’était pas suffisante pour l’intégrer à la méthode RAQIAT. / Protein acetylation is one of the most widespread post-translational modifications which is involved in many cellular physiologies and pathologies such as cancers. Regarding the important biological effect of protein acetylation and a non-negligible number of proteins bearing this PTM, several methods emerged last decade to investigate such PTM. But the detection of acetylations and their quantification are still limited and enrichment method allowing a better detection of acetylation target mostly one kind of acetylation (K-acetylation). To improve the detection of the three kind of acetylation (N-ter, K, and O-) and their quantification, we propose the RAQIAT method (Relative Absolute Quantification Isobaric Affinity Tag), based on protein digestion followed by 3 steps : i) a protection of free primary amines at N-ter, lysine (i.e. primary amine not bearing PTM) based on a reductive di-methylation strategy ii) a deacetylation of acetylated residues to obtain free primary amine corresponding to peptides previously acetylated iii) a RAQIAT labeling on the free primary amine obtained in the previous step to allow the enrichment of peptides previously acetylated and their quantifications. Herein, we present the investigation of the two first steps of RAQIAT method.In the first step, we evidenced that the reductive di-methylation strategy improved the detection of the three kind of acetylation: N-ter, K- and O- acetylations. Yeast protein samples were digested with trypsin prior di-methylation of resulting peptide mixture. Then, di-methylated peptide mixtures were fractionated by OFFGEL and reverse phase liquid chromatography followed by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry analysis. Data analysis was performed by using Mascot as search engines.Our results showed that OFFGEL fractionation is a useful step to increase detection of acetylations. Moreover, we showed that our di-methylation treatment improved significantly detection of acetylation. Indeed, after di-methylation treatment, 385 unique acetylated sites were identified while 164 unique acetylated peptides were detected without di-methylation treatment. The improvement of acetylation detection using our di-methylation strategy is observed for each of acetylations: N-ter, K- and O-acetylations. Thus, this new proteomic method is promising to enhance N-ter, K- and O-acetylation detection.In the second step, we presented preliminary results of deacetylation by sirtuin 1 in the presence of p53 peptide (Ac-Arg-His-Lys-Lys- (Ac) –AMC. However, the low deacetylation efficiency of the p53 peptide observed, conclude that is not suitable to applicate into RAQIAT Method

The emergence of digital capture devices have enabled the developmentof 3D acquisition to scan the properties of a real object : its shape and itsappearance. This process provides a dense and accurate representation of realobjects and allows to avoid the costly process of physical simulation to modelan object. Thus, the issues have evolved and are no longer focus on modelingthe characteristics of a real object only but on the treatment of data fromacquisition to integrate a copy of reality in a process of image synthesis. In this thesis, we propose new representations for appearance functions from the acquisition with the aim of defining a set of multicale models of low complexity in size working in real time on the today's graphics hardware / L'émergence des périphériques de capture numériques ont permis le développement de l'acquisition 3D pour numériser les propriétés d'un objet réel : sa forme et son apparence. Ce processus fournit une représentation dense et précise d'objets réels et permet de s'abstraire d'un processus des imulation physique coûteux pour modéliser un objet. Ainsi, les problématiquesont évolué et portent non plus uniquement sur la modélisation descaractéristiques d'un objet réel mais sur les traitements de données issues de l'acquisition pour intégrer une copie de la réalité dans un processus de synthèse d'images. Dans ces travaux de thèse, nous proposons de nouvelles représentations pour les fonctions d'apparence issues de l'acquisition dont le but est de définir un ensemble de modèles multi-échelles, de faible complexité en taille, capable d'e^tre visualisé en temps réel sur le matériel graphique actuel.

In eukaryotic cells, the genome is packed into chromatin, a hierarchically organized complex composed of DNA and histone and nonhistone proteins. In this thesis we have addressed the role of chromatin in cellular response to DNA damage (DDR) using various methodologies encompassing functional genomics and proteomics. First, we analyzed histone post-translational modifications (PTM) in the context of specific kind of DNA lesions (ICL-Interstrand Crosslinks) in Fanconi anemia using quantitative proteomics methodology, SILAC (Stable Isotope Labeling of Amino acids during Cell Culture). Using mass spectrometry (MS), we have successfully identified and quantified a number of histone PTM marks in histone H3 and H4, mainly acetylations and methylations,which have shown dependence upon functional FA-pathway. As a next step, we applied a functional genomics approach to study DDR in FA cells. In this analysis we first monitored the expression profile of histone modifying enzymes related to histone acetylations and methylations. Our results suggest some correlations between histone PTMs and gene expression of histone modifying enzymes, although conclusive evidence warrants further investigations. Next, we analyzed the total transcriptome after DNA damage induction in FA mutant and wild type cells. We also included in this analysis IR irradiation, in an attempt to dissociate more generic DDR from more specific changes that are associated with the role of FA pathway to the DNA ICLs. By performing a factorial interaction analysis, we were able to isolate the part of transcriptional response to DNA damage that was requiring functional FA pathway, as well as the genes that were sensitized to DNA damage by the inactivation of FA pathway. In the final part of the thesis, we attempted to solve one of the limitations that we encountered in the histone PTM analysis. The current approaches used to study histone PTMs from particular loci involves classical chromatin immunoprecipitation, which due to involvement of formaldehyde crosslinking render the protein part mostly unavailable for MS-based proteomics. We have proposed a novel methodology, which is based upon the biotin tagging of histones proximal to a protein of interest and subsequent purification of nucleosomes carrying the tagged histone. This methodology does not involve any crosslinking, enabling us to purify histones from specific loci, and subject them to large scale MS-based histone PTM analysis. A time dimension can also be added to our approach, as we can follow the modification status of particular fraction of histones once they get biotinylated. Another advantage is the use of alternate variant histones, which allows us to study the PTM profile of different functional states of chromatin. This methodology certainly has an edge on current techniques to study histone PTMs pattern associated with a particular protein of interest or with particular chromatin state.

Epigenetic control of gene expression by histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) is a complex process regulated by proteins that can 'read', 'write' or 'erase' these PTMs. The histone lysine demethylase (KDM) family of epigenetic enzymes remove methyl modifications from lysines on histone tails. The Jumonji C domain (JmjC) family is the largest family of KDMs. Investigating the scope and mechanisms of the JmjC KDMs is of interest for understanding the diverse functions of the JmjC KDMs in vivo, as well as for the application of the basic science to medicinal chemistry design. The work described in this thesis aimed to biochemically investigate the inhibitor and substrate diversity of the JmjC KDMs, it led to the identification of new inhibitors and substrates and revealed a potential combinatorial dependence between adjacent histone PTMs. Structure-activity relationship studies gave rise to an n-octyl ester form of IOX1 with improved cellular potency and selectivity towards the KDM4 subfamily. This compound should find utility as a basis for the development of JmjC inhibitors and as a tool compound for biological studies. The rest of this thesis focused on the biochemical investigations of potential substrates and inhibitors for KDM3A, a JmjC demethylase with varied physiological functions. Kinetic characterisation of reported KDM3A substrates was used as the basis for evaluations of novel substrates and inhibitors. Further studies found TCA cycle intermediates to be moderate co-substrate competitive inhibitors of KDM3A. Biochemical investigations were carried out to study potential protein-protein interactions of KDM3A with intraflagellar transport proteins (IFTs), non-histone proteins involved in the formation of sperm flagellum. Work then addressed the exploration of novel in vitro substrates for KDM3 (KDM3A and JMJD1C) mediated catalysis, including: methylated arginines, lysine analogues, acetylated and formylated lysines. KDM3A, and other JmjC KDMs, were found to catalyse novel arginine demethylation reaction in vitro. Knowledge gained from studies with unnatural lysine analogues was utilised to search for additional novel PTM substrates for KDM3A. These results constitute the first evidence of JmjC KDM catalysed hydroxylation of an Nε-acetyllysine residue. The H3 K4me3 position seems to be required for acetyllysine substrate recognition, implying a combinatorial effect between PTMs. Preliminary results provide evidence that JMJD1C, a KDM3 protein previously reported to be inactive, may catalyse deacetylation in vitro. An additional novel reaction, observed with both KDM3A and JMJD1C, is deformylation of N^ε-formyllysine residues on histone H3 fragment peptides. Interestingly, H3 K4 methylation was also observed to enhance the apparent deformylation of both KDM3A and JMJD1C catalysed reactions. Overall, findings in this thesis suggest that the catalytic activity of JmjC KDMs extends beyond lysine demethylation. In a cellular context, members of the KDM3 subfamily might provide a regulatory link between methylation and acylation marks. Such a link will further highlight the complex relationships between histone PTMs and the epigenetic enzymes that regulate them. The observed dependency of H3 K9 catalysis on H3 K4 methylation adds another layer of complexity to the epigenetic regulation by histone PTMs.

La modification post-traductionnelle par les « Small Ubiquitin-Like MOdifyers (SUMOs) » est un processus majeur de régulation qui influence plus d’une centaine de protéines. Cette modification (SUMOylation) touche plusieurs fonctions nucléaires telles que la réparation de l’ADN, la réplication et la transcription. La SUMOylation affecte une protéine le plus souvent en permettant la formation de nouvelles interactions protéine-protéines avec des facteurs de régulations qui possèdent un court segment hydrophobe dans leur séquence connu sous le nom de « SUMO interacting motif (SIM) ». Bien que les interactions SUMO-SIMs soient bien documentées, la description de leur régulation n’est pas complète. Cette thèse décrit des études fonctionnelles et structurales sur différents mécanismes de régulation des interactions SUMO-SIMs. Plus précisément, elle décrit les effets de l’acétylation et de la queue N-terminale des protéines SUMOs sur leur capacité à réguler les interactions entre SUMOs et les SIMs de trois protéines : le suppresseur de tumeur « promyelocytic leukemia (PML) », le corépresseur de transcription « Death Domain Associated Protein 6 (Daxx) » et « Protein Inhibitor of Activated STAT (PIAS) », une ligase E3 pour SUMO. La première étude décrit l’effet de l’acétylation de SUMO1 sur sa capacité à interagir avec les SIMs de PML et de Daxx. À partir d’expériences de titrage calorimétrique et d’études cristallographiques, nous avons démontré que l’acétylation précise de certains résidus conservés chez SUMO1 (K39 et K46) réduit fortement l’affinité avec les deux SIMs testés. En contraste, nous démontrons que l’acétylation du résidu K37 sur SUMO1 à un effet inhibiteur spécifique pour le SIM de Daxx. Les structures cristallographiques des complexes formés entre les variants acétylés de SUMO1 avec les SIMs concordent avec les données des titrages et suggère une plasticité dans la formation des liens sur la surface d’interaction. Partant de ce constat, nous postulons que la plasticité observée dans la structure des complexes acétylés démontre un mécanisme de régulation des interactions SUMO-SIMs par l’acétylation de résidus conservés chez SUMO1. Dans la deuxième étude, nous avons identifié un deuxième SIM à l’extrémité C-terminale de protéines de la famille (PIAS1-2-3). Nous démontrons que ce SIM est capable de lier SUMO1 et que structurellement la phosphorylation de résidus clés dans ce domaine ainsi que l’acétylation de SUMO1 peut contrôler cette interaction. Une comparaison avec le premier SIM des variants PIAS démontre que les deux SIMs sont affectés différemment par la phosphorylation et l’acétylation. En outre, nous avons déterminé que le nouveau SIM identifié joue un rôle important dans la formation d’un complexe ternaire répresseur de la transcription, formé des protéines PIAS, SUMO1 et de l’enzyme de conjugaison « UBiquitin Conjugating enzyme E2I (UBC9) ». Pris ensemble, ces résultats donnent une description atomique de l’interaction d’un nouveau SIM chez PIAS avec SUMO1 et décris comment la phosphorylation et l’acétylation peuvent sélectivement réguler la spécificité des SIM trouvés chez les variants PIAS. Finalement, dans la dernière étude, nous avons exploré le rôle de la queue N-terminale des paralogues SUMO1 et 2 sur sa capacité à moduler les interactions SUMO-SIMs. Nous avons démontré que la queue N-terminale de SUMO1, mais pas SUMO2, avait un effet auto-inhibiteur sur les interactions SUMO-SIMs et que cet effet dépendait de la présence de résidus chargés négativement présent dans le SIM. Aussi, nous avons démontré que l’effet auto-inhibiteur était spécifique à la surface d’interaction des SIMs sur SUMO1. De plus à partir d’études cristallographiques et de calorimétrie, nous avons démontré que l’effet auto-inhibiteur de la queue N-terminale de SUMO1 peut être neutralisé par la présence de zinc. La structure cristallographique du complexe entre SUMO1 et le SIM de PML démontre que le zinc stabilise la formation de liens entre des résidus chargés négativement du SIM et de la queue N-terminale de SUMO1. De plus, le zinc induit la formation d’une hélice α dans la queue N-terminale de SUMO1 qui est normalement intrinsèquement désordonnée. En résumé, cette étude donne une description atomique de l’effet de l’acétylation sur les interactions SUMO-SIMs, décris un nouveau SIM dans la famille de protéines PIAS et identifie un nouveau rôle de la queue N-terminale de SUMO1 ainsi que comment cette région peut définir la sélectivité des paralogues SUMOs. / Post-translational modification with the « Small Ubiquitin-Like MOdifyer (SUMO) » is a major regulatory process (commonly referred to as SUMOylation) that regulates hundreds of proteins associated with a diverse array of biological activities including several nuclear functions such as DNA repair, replication and transcription. SUMOylation of a protein can impact its function in many ways most often by providing an additional binding surface for forming protein-protein interactions with regulatory factors through short hydrophobic regions on their binding partners known as « SUMO interacting motif (SIM) ». Although SUMO-SIM interactions are well documented, there are nevertheless outstanding questions that still need to be addressed regarding their controlling mechanisms. This thesis reports functional and structural studies on the regulatory mechanisms that govern SUMO-SIM interactions. More precisely, we studied how acetylation and the amino-terminal tail of SUMO proteins affects the interaction of SUMO with model SIMs from three proteins: the « promyelocytic leukemia (PML) » tumor suppressor, the transcriptional corepressor « Death Domain Associated Protein 6 (Daxx) » and the SUMO E3 ligase « Protein Inhibitor of Activated STAT (PIAS) ». The first study reports the role that acetylation of SUMO1 plays on its binding to the SIMs of PML and Daxx. Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) experiments demonstrated that acetylation of SUMO1 at conserved residues (K39 and K46) dramatically reduces the binding to the SIMs of PML and Daxx. In contrast, SUMO1 acetylation at K37 dramatically reduced binding to the SIM of Daxx but only had minimal impact on binding to the SIM of PML. Crystal structures of the SUMO1 acetylated variants bound to the two SIMs support the ITC titrations and suggest that there is plasticity in SUMO-SIM interactions. The plasticity observed in the structures of these complexes would provide a robust mechanism for regulating SUMO-SIM interactions using a combination of signalling mechanisms that control post-translational modifications. In the second study, we identified and characterized a novel SIM at the C-terminal extremity of three of the four known variants of the PIAS-family proteins (PIAS1-2-3). We demonstrated that this SIM binds to SUMO1 and structurally show that phosphorylation of the SIM or acetylation at select lysine residues of SUMO1 alters this interaction. In addition, we determined that it plays an important role in the formation of ternary complex made of SUMO1, PIAS1 and the « UBiquitin Conjugating enzyme E2I (UBC9) » in human cells. Together, these results provide an atomic description of the interaction between the C-terminal SIM of PIAS proteins and SUMO1 as well as important insight into how posttranslational modifications selectively regulate the specificity of the SIMs found in PIAS1-2-3. Finally, our third study explores the intrinsically disordered N-terminal tail of SUMO paralogs and their ability to regulate SUMO-SIM interactions. We demonstrate that the N-terminal region of SUMO1, but not SUMO2, has an auto-inhibitory effect on the binding to SIMs and that this effect is dependent on the presence of acidic or phosphorylated residues that within the SIM. In addition, we also determined that this inhibition does not affect the interaction of SUMO1 with its E2 conjugating enzyme UBC9. Using titration calorimetry and crystallographic screening, we identified zinc as a negative regulator of this auto-inhibitory effect. The crystallographic structure of the complex between SUMO1 and the SIM of PML shows that zinc stabilises the formation of interactions with the negatively charged residues within the SIM and the N-terminal tail of SUMO1. Interestingly, zinc also appears to stabilize the formation of an α-helix within the N-terminal tail of SUMO1 which is normally intrinsically disordered. In summary, this thesis describes the underlying atomic regulatory mechanisms of SUMO-SIM interactions by acetylation, reveals a novel SIM within the PIAS SUMO E3 ligase family and describes an unprecedented role of the N-terminal region of SUMO1 and provides important insight on how this region can define SUMO paralog specificity.

Next-Generation protein sequencing (NGPS) creates newfound ways of fully identifying every protein species in a single biological organism. It is an effort to use technology to determine proteomic data. The purpose of this research project is to use the current technology to sequence proteins and potentially find treatments for some diseases that are common today. Through NGPS, scientists can identify low abundant proteins including those that go through post-translational modifications (PTM) [1]. NGPS will allow us to fully determine protein sequences from protein samples using mass spectrometry with the ultimate goal of being able to determine the primary sequence of the protein in the given sample [1]. Antibodies are a specific class of proteins that aid our bodies in the immune response. Due to their variability in the complementary-determining region (CDR), NGPS will be used to determine the heavy and light chain sequences [2]. The goal of this technology is to fully determine the primary sequence of a protein in a given sample. The randomness of an antibody’s variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) genes (VDJ recombination) makes each protein unique. VDJ recombination refers to the process of T cells and B cells randomly assembling different gene segments. This process allows the antibody to make specific receptors that can recognize different molecules presented on the surface of antigens. Proteases are enzymes that break down proteins and peptides. By using different proteases with varying cutting rules, we can digest the antibody and run it through high mass accuracy determining instrument [1]. NGPS allows us to utilize mass spectrometry technology to measure proteins or polypeptides. Because of these measurements, post-translation modifications, including glycosylation, can be detected, unlike in DNA sequencing technology. Protein sequencing has the opportunity to play a major role in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak and serve as curative measures for the treatment and Type 2 Diabetes [3]. Proteomics can serve as the basis of vaccine development as well as monitoring treatment. Utilizing techniques such as mass spectrometry could reveal the structure of the virus and ultimately allow for engineered tissues to produce the protein in large amounts in a lab setting. Currently, many companies are utilizing highly sensitized technology to carry out the goals of NGPS. The Oxford Nanopore is a company that uses technology to develop and explore more ways to undergo protein analysis. The methods used by this company involve using protein nanopores to mutate residues in pores to determine the overall sequence. The company utilizes modified aptamers that are drawn to the nanopore current. These aptamers can bind with some, but not all pores, allowing for the differentiation between target and non-target proteins. Nicoya Life Sciences is another company that uses Open Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) to detect molecular interactions. SPR uses an analyte (a mobile molecule) to bind to a ligand and observe changes in the refractive index. SPR allows researchers the ability to characterize the binding kinetics and affinities of monoclonal antibodies. SPR is an extremely promising technique to sequence proteins due to its flexibility in being able to work with a variety of molecules including lipids, nucleic acids, cells, viruses, nanoparticles, proteins, antibodies, carbohydrates, and more. The original goal behind NGPS was to establish a method to sequence proteins to aid in the early detection of common diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes. After significant research, it is now known that NGPS can be done in a variety of ways to accomplish a common goal—sequencing proteins and understanding how amino acids affect the human body. In the case of diseased states, NGPS can help researchers find ways to diagnose, treat, and cure diseases early on. Focusing on antibodies allows us to manipulate the body’s immune response to rid the host of pathogens. NGPS, however, is advancing at a much slower rate than anticipated by companies due to its many limitations including not being able to sequence large peptides, difficulties in material and composition of the sample, and needing to label small peptides to begin degradation. Ideally, finding a way to combine the high accuracy and specificity of certain techniques, the ability to detect low abundant proteins in others, and the flexibility of Open SPR would allow researchers and companies to create the standard for NGPS. Creating effective antibodies is precisely why NGPS has such great potential today. Ultimately, I found that as a standalone, Open SPR is the most effective method. However, as the research shows, there are limitations with each method, including Open SPR. The conclusion shows that it is necessary to find a combination of these techniques and create an accurate method, potentially using different technologies, to establish the most effective way to sequence proteins.