Compartmentalization of HP1 proteins in pluripotency acquisition and maintenance

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have a hyperdynamic chromatin structure characterized by fewer discrete foci of heterochromatin protein 1 family of proteins (HP1) compared to somatic cells. During reprogramming of somatic cells, depletion of HP1γ early, reduced, while depletion later, enhanced the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs); concomitant with a change from a centromeric to nucleoplasmic localization. To identify the interactome of HP1γ in different biochemical environment in ESCs, we compared protein complexes of HP1γ at 0.42M salt (Dignam et al, 1983), with micrococcal nuclease (MCN) digestion with 0.3M NaCl, and MCN with 0.5M NaCl. To understand the effectors of the change in localization, we isolated protein complexes containing HP1γ in ESCs and compared the profile to that in partially reprogrammed intermediates called pre-iPSCs. Given the differential distribution of the HP1 family in ESCs, we also compared the protein interactome of HP1γ in ESCs with that of HP1α and HP1β. In addition, we probed histone associations of HP1γ in ESCs further by querying the histone post-translational modifications that were detectable. The HP1 proteins themselves are decorated with multiple PTMs, several of which we have found to be novel. Taken together our results reveal the complex contribution of the HP1 proteins to pluripotency.