Sir2 is required for Clr4 to initiate centromeric heterochromatin assembly in fission yeast

Heterochromatin assembly in fission yeast depends on the Clr4 histone methyltransferase, which targets H3K9. We show that the histone deacetylase Sir2 is required for Clr4 activity at telomeres, but acts redundantly with Clr3 histone deacetylase to maintain centromeric heterochromatin. However, Sir2 is critical for Clr4 function during de novo centromeric heterochromatin assembly. We identified new targets of Sir2 and tested if their deacetylation is necessary for Clr4‐mediated heterochromatin establishment. Sir2 preferentially deacetylates H4K16Ac and H3K4Ac, but mutation of these residues to mimic acetylation did not prevent Clr4‐mediated heterochromatin establishment. Sir2 also deacetylates H3K9Ac and H3K14Ac. Strains bearing H3K9 or H3K14 mutations exhibit heterochromatin defects. H3K9 mutation blocks Clr4 function, but why H3K14 mutation impacts heterochromatin was not known. Here, we demonstrate that recruitment of Clr4 to centromeres is blocked by mutation of H3K14. We suggest that Sir2 deacetylates H3K14 to target Clr4 to centromeres. Further, we demonstrate that Sir2 is critical for de novo accumulation of H3K9me2 in RNAi‐deficient cells. These analyses place Sir2 and H3K14 deacetylation upstream of Clr4 recruitment during heterochromatin assembly.     

Cohesin acetyltransferase Esco2 is a cell viability factor and is required for cohesion in pericentric heterochromatin

Sister chromatid cohesion, mediated by cohesin and regulated by Sororin, is essential for chromosome segregation. In mammalian cells, cohesion establishment and Sororin recruitment to chromatin-bound cohesin depends on the acetyltransferases Esco1 and Esco2. Mutations in Esco2 cause Roberts syndrome, a developmental disease in which mitotic chromosomes have a 'railroad' track morphology. Here, we show that Esco2 deficiency leads to termination of mouse development at pre- and post-implantation stages, indicating that Esco2 functions non-redundantly with Esco1. Esco2 is transiently expressed during S-phase when it localizes to pericentric heterochromatin (PCH). In interphase, Esco2 depletion leads to a reduction in cohesin acetylation and Sororin recruitment to chromatin. In early mitosis, Esco2 deficiency causes changes in the chromosomal localization of cohesin and its protector Sgo1. Our results suggest that Esco2 is needed for cohesin acetylation in PCH and that this modification is required for the proper distribution of cohesin on mitotic chromosomes and for centromeric cohesion.     

组蛋白乙酰转移酶的研究进展

组蛋白乙酰化与基因转录等生物效应有密切的关系,组蛋白乙酰化主要是由组蛋白乙酰转移酶催化的。 要介绍了基因转录有关组蛋白乙酰转移酶,包括ＨＡＴＡ／Ｇｃｎ５ｐ、ｐ３００／ＣＢＰ、ｐ／ＣＡＦ、ＡＣＴＲ、Ｓｒｃ１、ＴＡＦ Ⅱ ２５０、Ｅｌｐ３等的来源,与其相互作用的蛋白质及其主要功能。     

Effects of genome architecture and epigenetic factors on susceptibility of promoter CpG islands to aberrant DNA methylation induction

Aberrant DNA methylation is induced at specific promoter CpG islands (CGIs) in contrast with mutations. The specificity is influenced by genome architecture and epigenetic factors, but their relationship is still unknown. In this study, we isolated promoter CGIs susceptible and resistant to aberrant methylation induction during prostate and breast carcinogenesis. The effect of genome architecture was more evident for promoter CGIs susceptible in both of the two tissues than for promoter CGIs susceptible only in one tissue. Multivariate analysis of promoter CGIs with tissue-nonspecific susceptibility showed that genome architecture, namely a remote location from SINE (OR = 5.98; 95% CI = 2.33-15.34) and from LINE (OR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.03-4.21), was associated with increased susceptibility, independent of epigenetic factors such as the presence of RNA polymerase II (OR = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.02-0.48) and H3K27me3 (OR = 3.28; 95% CI = 1.17-9.21). These results showed that methylation susceptibility of promoter CGIs is determined both by genome architecture and epigenetic factors, independently.     

组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂(HDAIs)对异染色质的作用

组蛋白乙酰化和去乙酰化可调节染色体的多种功能,例如基因表达和染色体分离等。研究发现,组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂(histone deacetylase inhibitors,HDACIs)可诱导分化、生长阻断和肿瘤细胞凋亡,目前HDACIs正作为抗肿瘤药物进行临床试验,在肿瘤治疗中显示出具有较好的应用前景。然而,人们对于HDACIs在生物体内是如何发挥作用以及不同类型细胞为何会有不同的应答途径却关注甚少。本综述通过讨论HDACIs对周期和非周期细胞中组蛋白去乙酰化酶的抑制结果,来阐明组蛋白乙酰化模式的动力学特征,特别是对基因组异染色质的作用。     

Nucleosomal structure as probed by H3 histone thiol reactivity

Two H3 histone variants are found in equal amount in HeLa cells, and they have been characterized by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by reaction with specific antibodies. These molecules are the only cysteine-containing histones, and they have been used as the target for thiol-specific reagents, in intact nuclei, isolated nucleosomes, histone complexes, and purified histones. Cysteine residues are available toN-ethylmaleimide only when histones are disassembled from the core particles. Upon reaction with these reagents, one of the H3 variants undergoes profound conformational changes, as revealed by an altered electrophoretic mobility.     

Targeting histone acetylation dynamics and oncogenic transcription by catalytic P300/CBP inhibition

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关于组蛋白甲基化的研究

主要阐述了组蛋白甲基转移酶的类型,组蛋白H3中第9位赖氨酸甲基化与异染色质的形成、常染色体中基因表达的调控,以及与DNA甲基化之间的关系,说明了组蛋白甲基化与组蛋白乙酰化、磷酸化的相互关系, 指出组蛋白甲基化对维持细胞各种状态的平衡起到极其重要的作用。Abstract： The types of histone methyltransferases, the relationship between methylation of Lysine 9 of H3 and the formation of heterochromatin, gene regulation in euchromatin, and that with DNA methylation, were mainly introduced. The interrelation between histone methylation and histone acetylation/phosphorylation was summarized. It is showed that histone methylation plays a very important role in maintaining the balance state of cell. The future research tendency of histone methylation was fantanstic.