Trimethylation of Histone H3 Lysine 36 by Human Methyltransferase PRDM9 Protein

PRDM9 (PR domain-containing protein 9) is a meiosis-specific protein that trimethylates H3K4 and controls the activation of recombination hot spots. It is an essential enzyme in the progression of early meiotic prophase. Disruption of the PRDM9 gene results in sterility in mice. In human, several PRDM9 SNPs have been implicated in sterility as well. Here we report on kinetic studies of H3K4 methylation by PRDM9 in vitro indicating that PRDM9 is a highly active histone methyltransferase catalyzing mono-, di-, and trimethylation of the H3K4 mark. Screening for other potential histone marks, we identified H3K36 as a second histone residue that could also be mono-, di-, and trimethylated by PRDM9 as efficiently as H3K4. Overexpression of PRDM9 in HEK293 cells also resulted in a significant increase in trimethylated H3K36 and H3K4 further confirming our in vitro observations. Our findings indicate that PRDM9 may play critical roles through H3K36 trimethylation in cells.     

Recognition of Histone H3K4 Trimethylation by the Plant Homeodomain of PHF2 Modulates Histone Demethylation

Distinct lysine methylation marks on histones create dynamic signatures deciphered by the “effector” modules, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We identified the plant homeodomain- and Jumonji C domain-containing protein PHF2 as a novel histone H3K9 demethylase. We show in biochemical and crystallographic analyses that PHF2 recognizes histone H3K4 trimethylation through its plant homeodomain finger and that this interaction is essential for PHF2 occupancy and H3K9 demethylation at rDNA promoters. Our study provides molecular insights into the mechanism by which distinct effector domains within a protein cooperatively modulate the “cross-talk” of histone modifications.     

The n-SET Domain of Set1 Regulates H2B Ubiquitylation-Dependent H3K4 Methylation

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Highlights? H2B ubiquitylation directly stimulates H3K4 methylation by the yeast Set1 complex ? Swd2 is not directly required for the H3K4 methylation activity of the yeast Set1 complex ? The Set1 n-SET domain plays a critical role in H2Bub-dependent H3K4 methylation ? Spp1 is conditionally involved in n-SET- and H2Bub-dependent H3K4 methylation     

Hmox1促进BMP9诱导C3H10T1/2细胞向成骨分化

目的:研究血红素加氧酶1(hemeoxygenase 1,Hmox1)在骨形态发生蛋白9(bone morphogenetic proteins 9,BMP9)诱导下间充质干细胞C3H10T1/2向成骨分化过程中发挥的作用。方法:用Ad-BMP9感染C3H10T1/2,分别用Q-PCR和Western blot检测Hmox1mRNA和蛋白水平的变化;Hmox1激动剂COPP处理BMP9诱导的C3H10T1/2细胞,碱性磷酸酶(ALP)染色和活性测定检测早期成骨指标ALP的变化;过表达Hmox1的重组腺病毒(Ad-Hmox1)处理BMP9诱导的C3H10T1/2细胞,ALP染色和活性测定早期成骨指标ALP,茜素红染色检测晚期成骨指标钙盐沉积,Western blot检测成骨相关基因COL1A1。结果:Ad-BMP9感染C3H10T1/2后,Hmox1的mRNA及蛋白水平均升高;BMP9与Hmox1激动剂COPP联用与BMP9组相比ALP的活性增强;Ad-Hmox1可以增强BMP9诱导下C3H10T1/2细胞的ALP活性和钙盐沉积,以及成骨相关基因COL1A1表达。结论:Hmox1可以促进BMP9诱导下C3H10T1/2细胞的成骨分化。     

Trimethylation of histone H3K76 by Dot1B enhances cell cycle progression after mitosis in Trypanosoma cruzi

Dot1 enzymes are histone methyltransferases that mono-, di- and trimethylate lysine 79 of histone H3 to affect several nuclear processes. The functions of these different methylation states are still largely unknown. Trypanosomes, which are flagellated protozoa that cause several parasitic diseases, have two Dot1 homologues. Dot1A catalyzes the mono- and dimethylation of lysine 76 during late G2 and mitosis, and Dot1B catalyzes trimethylation, which is a modification found in all stages of the cell cycle. Here, we generated Trypanosoma cruzi lines lacking Dot1B. Deletion of one allele resulted in parasites with increased levels of mono- and dimethylation and a reduction in H3K76me3. In the full knockout (DKO), no trimethylation was observed. Both the DKO and the single knockout (SKO) showed aberrant morphology and decreased growth due to cell cycle arrest after G2. This phenotype could be rescued by caffeine in the DKO, as caffeine is a checkpoint inhibitor of the cell cycle. The knockouts also phosphorylated γH2A without producing extensive DNA breaks, and Dot1B-depleted cells were more susceptible to general checkpoint kinase inhibitors, suggesting that a lack of H3K76 trimethylation prevents the initiation and/or completion of cytokinesis.     

组蛋白H3K36甲基化与疾病

组蛋白H3K36位点可以发生甲基化修饰,其修饰状态受到H3K36甲基转移酶和去甲基化酶的动态调控。H3K36的甲基化修饰可引起多种生物学效应,如参与基因的转录激活或抑制、剂量补偿以及基因的选择性剪接等。H3K36甲基化修饰状态的异常与很多疾病相关,因此全面了解H3K36甲基化对于该类疾病的诊断和治疗具有重要意义。     

NSD2 promotes ventricular remodelling mediated by the regulation of H3K36me2

Histone lysine methylation plays an important role in the regulation of ventricular remodelling. NSD2 is involved in many types of tumours through enhancing H3K36me2 expression. However, the role of NSD2 in the regulation of histone lysine methylation during ventricular remodelling remains unclear. In this study, we established cardiac hypertrophy model in C57BL/6 mice by transverse aortic constriction and found that histone lysine methylation participated in ventricular remodelling regulation via the up‐regulation of H3K27me2 and H3K36me2 expression. In addition, we constructed transgenic C57BL/6 mice with conditional knockout of NSD2 (NSD2^?/?) in the myocardium. NSD2^?/? C57BL/6 mice had milder ventricular remodelling and significantly improved cardiac function compared with wild‐type mice, and the expression of H3K36me2 but not H3K27me2 was down‐regulated. In conclusion, NSD2 promotes ventricular remodelling mediated by the regulation of H3K36me2.