Nitric Oxide Modifies Global Histone Methylation by Inhibiting Jumonji C Domain-containing Demethylases

Methylation of lysine residues on histone tails is an important epigenetic modification that is dynamically regulated through the combined effects of methyltransferases and demethylases. The Jumonji C domain Fe(II) α-ketoglutarate family of proteins performs the majority of histone demethylation. We demonstrate that nitric oxide (^•NO) directly inhibits the activity of the demethylase KDM3A by forming a nitrosyliron complex in the catalytic pocket. Exposing cells to either chemical or cellular sources of ^•NO resulted in a significant increase in dimethyl Lys-9 on histone 3 (H3K9me2), the preferred substrate for KDM3A. G9a, the primary methyltransferase acting on H3K9me2, was down-regulated in response to ^•NO, and changes in methylation state could not be accounted for by methylation in general. Furthermore, cellular iron sequestration via dinitrosyliron complex formation correlated with increased methylation. The mRNA of several histone demethylases and methyltransferases was also differentially regulated in response to ^•NO. Taken together, these data reveal three novel and distinct mechanisms whereby ^•NO can affect histone methylation as follows: direct inhibition of Jumonji C demethylase activity, reduction in iron cofactor availability, and regulation of expression of methyl-modifying enzymes. This model of ^•NO as an epigenetic modulator provides a novel explanation for nonclassical gene regulation by ^•NO.     

Novel 3-methylindoline inhibitors of EZH2: Design,synthesis and SAR

EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homologue 2) is the catalytic subunit of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) that catalyzes the methylation of lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27). Dysregulation of EZH2 activity is associated with several human cancers and therefore EZH2 inhibition has emerged as a promising therapeutic target. Several small molecule EZH2 inhibitors with different chemotypes have been reported in the literature, many of which use a bicyclic heteroaryl core. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of EZH2 inhibitors containing an indoline core. Partial saturation of an indole to an indoline provided lead compounds with nanomolar activity against EZH2, while also improving solubility and oxidative metabolic stability.     

DNA 甲基转移酶基因干扰对K562 细胞癌- 睾丸抗原表达的影响

目的:探讨抑制甲基转移酶(DNMT)对K562细胞中癌-睾丸抗原表达的影响及其机制。方法:分别采用针对DNMT家族不同成员的siRNA转染K562细胞,,采用RT-PCR检测细胞中DNMT及癌-睾丸抗原的水平表达,并采用甲基化特异PCR(MSP)检测部分癌-睾丸抗原基因启动子的甲基化状态。结果:经siRNA干扰后,K562细胞中DNMT1、DNMT3a和DNMT3b的表达量均明显降低,癌-睾丸抗原CT10的启动子区序列发生了去甲基化,但处于非甲基化状态的MAGE-A1启动子区没有发生任何改变。干扰DNMT组的K562细胞,再表达癌-睾丸抗原CT10、PRAME和CT9,而MAGE-A1、SSX-1的表达上调,但是NY-ESO-1、HCA587和HCA661的表达状况均没有任何影响。结论:在K562细胞中,干扰DNMT可使部分癌-睾丸抗原基因的启动子区发生去甲基化,从而导致相应的癌-睾丸抗原分子的再表达或表达增加。     

Electron microscopic studies of sequence-specific recognition of duplex DNA by different ligands

The following ligands were used to study sequence specific recognition of duplex DNA by electron microscopic techniques: methyltransferases BspR1 and EcoR124 (recognition sequences GGCC and GAAN7RTCG, respectively), a biotinylated deoxyoligonucleotide 5′-CTCTCTCTCTCTCT-3′ capable of forming triplex DNA, and PNA oligomer H-T₁₀-LysNH₂. For each ligand the best conditions for electron microscopic (EM)detection of stable specific complex formation were determined. It was demonstrated that EM allowed us to determine the position of the individual target site with an error of 15–20 bp, the relative affinities for individual target sites and kinetic parameters of the binding. These results open new possibilities for EM investigations of sequence-specific interactions with a wide range of other ligands of a similar nature. They also imply that a wide range of different sequences can be unambiguously and precisely mapped by EM and greatly extend the scope of EM applications for physical mapping of genomic DNA.