Histone deacetylase inhibitors: anticancer compounds

The reversible acetylation of proteins is mediated by histone acetyltransferases which acetylate proteins and histone deacetylases that remove the acetyl groups. High levels of histone acetylation are correlated with active genes, while hypoacetylation of histones corresponds with gene repression. Importantly, acetylation also occurs on non-histone proteins and this can affect the activity and stability of these proteins. Aberrant epigenetic changes are a common hallmark of tumors and imbalances in the activities of deacetylases have been associated with cancers. Accordingly, inhibitors to the histone deacetylases are in clinical trials for the treatment of several cancer types. These drugs mediate a number of molecular changes and in turn can induce cell cycle arrest, apoptosis or differentiation of cancer cells while displaying limited toxicity in normal cells.     

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.     

Lysine methylation: beyond histones

Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of histone proteins, such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitylation, play essential roles in regulating chromatin dynamics. Combinations of different modifications on the histone proteins, termed 'histone code' in many cases, extend the information potential of the genetic code by regulating DNA at the epigenetic level. Many PTMs occur on non-histone proteins as well as histones, regulating protein-protein interactions, stability, localization, and/or enzymatic activities of proteins involved in diverse cellular processes. Although protein phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, and acetylation have been extensively studied, only a few proteins other than histones have been reported that can be modified by lysine methylation. This review summarizes the current progress on lysine methylation of non-histone proteins, and we propose that lysine methylation, like phosphorylation and acetylation, is a common PTM that regulates proteins in diverse cellular processes.     

The viral control of cellular acetylation signaling

It is becoming clear that the post-translational modification of histone and non-histone proteins by acetylation is part of an important cellular signaling process controlling a wide variety of functions in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Recent investigations designate this signaling pathway as one of the primary targets of viral proteins after infection. Indeed, specific viral proteins have acquired the capacity to interact with cellular acetyltransferases (HATs) and deacetylases (HDACs) and consequently to disrupt normal acetylation signaling pathways, thereby affecting viral and cellular gene expression. Here we review the targeting of cellular HATs and HDACs by viral proteins and highlight different strategies adopted by viruses to control cellular acetylation signaling and to accomplish their life cycle.     

Targeting histone deacetylases for the treatment of disease

The 'histone code' is a well-established hypothesis describing the idea that specific patterns of post-translational modifications to histones act like a molecular 'code' recognized and used by non-histone proteins to regulate specific chromatin functions. One modification, which has received significant attention, is that of histone acetylation. The enzymes that regulate this modification are described as lysine acetyltransferases or KATs, and histone deacetylases or HDACs. Due to their conserved catalytic domain HDACs have been actively targeted as a therapeutic target. The pro-inflammatory environment is increasingly being recognized as a critical element for both degenerative diseases and cancer. The present review will discuss the current knowledge surrounding the clinical potential and current development of histone deacetylases for the treatment of diseases for which a pro-inflammatory environment plays important roles, and the molecular mechanisms by which such inhibitors may play important functions in modulating the pro-inflammatory environment.     

综述: 组蛋白去乙酰化酶的结构及应用

组蛋白赖氨酸乙酰化是目前研究最为广泛和深入的组蛋白翻译后修饰之一,在染色质重塑和基因表达调控等方面发挥重要作用,这种修饰在体内受到组蛋白乙酰化酶和去乙酰化酶的高度动态调控．除了以组蛋白为底物外,组蛋白去乙酰化酶还可以催化多种非组蛋白的去乙酰化,参与多种生命过程的调节．本文围绕四类人源组蛋白去乙酰化酶,综述了其分类依据、结构与功能特点、催化反应的分子机制,以及针对这些组蛋白去乙酰化酶的抑制剂和激动剂的开发和应用等方面的研究进展．     

Histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases: molecular and clinical implications to gastrointestinal carcinogenesis

Histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases are two groups of enzymes whose opposing activities govern the dynamic levels of reversible acetylation on specific lysine residues of histones and many other proteins. Gastrointestinal (GI) carcinogenesis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In addition to genetic and environmental factors, the role of epigenetic abnormalities such as aberrant histone acetylation has been recognized to be pivotal in regulating benign tumorigenesis and eventual malignant transformation. Here we provide an overview of histone acetylation, list the major groups of histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases, and cover in relatively more details the recent studies that suggest the links of these enzymes to GI carcinogenesis. As potential novel therapeutics for GI and other cancers, histone deacetylase inhibitors are also discussed.