Crosstalk between epigenetic readers regulates the MOZ/MORF HAT complexes

The MOZ/MORF complexes represent an example of a chromatin-binding assembly whose recruitment to specific genomic regions and activity can be fine-tuned by posttranslational modifications of histones. Here we detail the structures and biological functions of epigenetic readers present in the four core subunits of the MOZ/MORF complexes, highlight the imperative role of combinatorial readout by the multiple readers, and discuss new research directions to advance our understanding of histone acetylation.     

Crosstalk between epigenetic readers regulates the MOZ/MORF HAT complexes

The MOZ/MORF complexes represent an example of a chromatin-binding assembly whose recruitment to specific genomic regions and activity can be fine-tuned by posttranslational modifications of histones. Here we detail the structures and biological functions of epigenetic readers present in the four core subunits of the MOZ/MORF complexes, highlight the imperative role of combinatorial readout by the multiple readers, and discuss new research directions to advance our understanding of histone acetylation.     

重组p300组蛋白乙酰转移酶结构域的表达及应用

组蛋白乙酰化修饰是基因起始转录的关键步骤. p300等组蛋白乙酰转移酶（HATs）催化组蛋白和非组蛋白的乙酰化. HATs具有多种细胞功能,而且乙酰化对底物蛋白的功能改变也具有重要功能. 组蛋白乙酰转移酶p300可乙酰化多种细胞内蛋白,某些病毒蛋白与p300有相互作用并促进病毒复制. 因此, p300是细胞内具有广泛功能的转录激活因子. 组蛋白乙酰转移酶结构域（HAT区）是p300乙酰化酶活性的最小中心功能域,在p300乙酰化底物中具有重要功能. 本文重组表达了对应p300 HAT区的GST-p300 HAT蛋白,对其乙酰化酶的活性进行检测. 结果证实,p300 HAT蛋白在体外可高效乙酰化组蛋白H3. 随后,对体外乙酰化反应的条件进行优化. 总之,本文构建了一种简单高效、非放射性体外乙酰化体系,适用于对潜在底物蛋白的乙酰化水平和机制进行分析,以及乙酰化蛋白的相关功能的研究.     

Histone Acetyltransferase p300 Mediates Histone Acetylation of PS1 and BACE1 in a Cellular Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Epigenetic modifications, particularly histone acetylation, have been implicated in Alzheimer''s disease (AD). While previous studies have suggested that histone hypoacetylation may regulate the expression of genes associated with memory and learning in AD, little is known about histone regulation of AD-related genes such as Presenilin 1(PS1) and beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1(BACE1). By utilizing neuroblastoma N2a cells transfected with Swedish mutated human amyloid precursor protein (APP) (N2a/APPswe) and wild-type APP (N2a/APPwt) as cellular models of AD, we examined the alterations of histone acetylation at the promoter regions of PS1 and BACE1 in these cells. Our results revealed that histone H3 acetylation in PS1 and BACE1 promoters is markedly increased in N2a/APPswe cells when compared to N2a/APPwt cells and control cells (vector-transfected), respectively, causing the elevated expression of PS1 and BACE1. In addition, expression of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) adenoviral E1A-associated 300-kDa protein (p300) is dramatically enhanced in N2a/APPswe cells compared to N2a/APPwt and control cells. We have further demonstrated the direct binding of p300 protein to the PS1 and BACE1 promoters in N2a/APPswe cells. The expression levels of H3 acetylation of the PS1 and BACE1 promoters and p300 protein, however, were found to be not significantly different in N2a/APPwt cells when compared to controls in our studies. Furthermore, curcumin, a natural selective inhibitor of p300 in HATs, significantly suppressed the expression of PS1 and BACE1 through inhibition of H3 acetylation in their promoter regions in N2a/APPswe cells. These findings indicated that histone acetyltransferase p300 plays a critical role in controlling the expression of AD-related genes through regulating the acetylation of their promoter regions, suggesting that p300 may represent a novel potential therapeutic target for AD.     

人组蛋白α-氨基乙酰基转移酶Nat11表达纯化、晶体生长及底物结合研究

α-氨基乙酰基转移酶11(Nat11)催化组蛋白H4和H2A氨基端乙酰化修饰,发挥着重要的表观遗传调控功能。将人Nat11基因构建到原核表达载体p SUMO中,转化入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)进行重组表达。通过镍柱亲和层析等一系列体外纯化步骤,获得高纯度Nat11。利用等温滴定量热法(ITC),测得Nat11与底物多肽微摩尔量级结合常数。利用质谱技术,发现纯化后的Nat11结合有大肠杆菌内源产生的乙酰辅酶A或辅酶A,在ITC滴定过程中可以产生对多肽底物的乙酰化修饰,表明纯化获得的Nat11在溶液中具有酶活力。随后,对Nat11进行晶体生长研究,通过初筛优化获得蛋白截短体及底物-酶融合蛋白单晶。     

组蛋白乙酰转移酶PCAF通过与PML蛋白的作用而定位于细胞核ND10结构

PCAF(P300/CBP associated factor,P300/CBP相关因子)是一种重要的组蛋白乙酰转移酶,主要通过使核小体组蛋白发生乙酰化而参与基因转录的调控。P300/CBP是一种能够与PCAF相互作用的宿主细胞蛋白,定位于细胞核ND10结构(nuclear dot10)。ND10是由70余种蛋白质分子组成的、以分散的斑点或团块样方式存在于细胞核内的大分子复合物,与基因转录调控过程有着密切关系。早幼粒细胞白血病蛋白(promyelocytic leukemia protein,PML)是ND10的主要组成成分,对于维持ND10的正常结构与功能至关重要。在成功构建pGBK-PML3、pGAD-PCAF、pGEX-PCAF、pFlag-PCAF和pcDNA-PML3重组质粒的基础上,用酵母双杂交证明PCAF与PML3之间存在着相互作用;用GST-pull down技术证明GST-PCAF能够将PML3蛋白捕获并沉降下来,表明在体外条件下两者之间存在直接的相互作用;用免疫共沉淀和荧光共定位证明在体内PCAF能够与PML发生直接的相互作用而定位于ND10。这些结果为进一步深入研究PCAF的生物学功能和作用模式奠定了基础。     

Histone acetyltransferase MOZ acts as a co-activator of Nrf2-MafK and induces tumour marker gene expression during hepatocarcinogenesis

HATs (histone acetyltransferases) contribute to the regulation of gene expression, and loss or dysregulation of these activities may link to tumorigenesis. Here, we demonstrate that expression levels of HATs, p300 and CBP [CREB (cAMP-response-element-binding protein)-binding protein] were decreased during chemical hepatocarcinogenesis, whereas expression of MOZ (monocytic leukaemia zinc-finger protein; MYST3)--a member of the MYST [MOZ, Ybf2/Sas3, Sas2 and TIP60 (Tat-interacting protein, 60 kDa)] acetyltransferase family--was induced. Although the MOZ gene frequently is rearranged in leukaemia, we were unable to detect MOZ rearrangement in livers with hyperplastic nodules. We examined the effect of MOZ on hepatocarcinogenic-specific gene expression. GSTP (glutathione S-transferase placental form) is a Phase II detoxification enzyme and a well-known tumour marker that is specifically elevated during hepatocarcinogenesis. GSTP gene activation is regulated mainly by the GPE1 (GSTP enhancer 1) enhancer element, which is recognized by the Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45 subunit-related factor 2)-MafK heterodimer. We found that MOZ enhances GSTP promoter activity through GPE1 and acts as a co-activator of the Nrf2-MafK heterodimer. Further, exogenous MOZ induced GSTP expression in rat hepatoma H4IIE cells. These results suggest that during early hepatocarcinogenesis, aberrantly expressed MOZ may induce GSTP expression through the Nrf2-mediated pathway.     

Integrating Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry with Molecular Modelling to Determine the Architecture of Multiprotein Complexes

Current challenges in the field of structural genomics point to the need for new tools and technologies for obtaining structures of macromolecular protein complexes. Here, we present an integrative computational method that uses molecular modelling, ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) and incomplete atomic structures, usually from X-ray crystallography, to generate models of the subunit architecture of protein complexes. We begin by analyzing protein complexes using IM-MS, and by taking measurements of both intact complexes and sub-complexes that are generated in solution. We then examine available high resolution structural data and use a suite of computational methods to account for missing residues at the subunit and/or domain level. High-order complexes and sub-complexes are then constructed that conform to distance and connectivity constraints imposed by IM-MS data. We illustrate our method by applying it to multimeric protein complexes within the Escherichia coli replisome: the sliding clamp, (β₂), the γ complex (γ₃δδ′), the DnaB helicase (DnaB₆) and the Single-Stranded Binding Protein (SSB₄).     

Epigenetic Regulation of Axonal Growth of Drosophila Pacemaker Cells by Histone Acetyltransferase Tip60 Controls Sleep

Tip60 is a histone acetyltransferase (HAT) enzyme that epigenetically regulates genes enriched for neuronal functions through interaction with the amyloid precursor protein (APP) intracellular domain. However, whether Tip60-mediated epigenetic dysregulation affects specific neuronal processes in vivo and contributes to neurodegeneration remains unclear. Here, we show that Tip60 HAT activity mediates axonal growth of the Drosophila pacemaker cells, termed “small ventrolateral neurons” (sLNvs), and their production of the neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) that functions to stabilize Drosophila sleep–wake cycles. Using genetic approaches, we show that loss of Tip60 HAT activity in the presence of the Alzheimer’s disease-associated APP affects PDF expression and causes retraction of the sLNv synaptic arbor required for presynaptic release of PDF. Functional consequence of these effects is evidenced by disruption of the sleep–wake cycle in these flies. Notably, overexpression of Tip60 in conjunction with APP rescues these sleep–wake disturbances by inducing overelaboration of the sLNv synaptic terminals and increasing PDF levels, supporting a neuroprotective role for dTip60 in sLNv growth and function under APP-induced neurodegenerative conditions. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism for Tip60 mediated sleep–wake regulation via control of axonal growth and PDF levels within the sLNv-encompassing neural network and provide insight into epigenetic-based regulation of sleep disturbances observed in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.