Nucleosome-CHD4 chromatin remodeller structure explains human disease mutations

Chromatin remodelling plays important roles in gene regulation during development, differentiation and in disease. The chromatin remodelling enzyme CHD4 is a component of the NuRD and ChAHP complexes that are involved in gene repression. Here we report the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of CHD4 engaged with a nucleosome core particle in the presence of the non-hydrolysable ATP analogue AMP-PNP at an overall resolution of 3.1 Å. The ATPase motor of CHD4 binds and distorts nucleosomal DNA at super-helical location (SHL) +2, supporting the ‘twist defect’ model of chromatin remodelling. CHD4 does not induce unwrapping of terminal DNA, in contrast to its homologue Chd1, which functions in gene activation. Our results also rationalize the effect of CHD4 mutations that are associated with cancer or the intellectual disability disorder Sifrim-Hitz-Weiss syndrome.