Abstract 072: Protein Kinase A prevents cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through abhydrolase domain containing 5 (ABHD5)-mediated proteolysis of Histone deacetylase 4(HDAC4)

Abstract

Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) regulates numerous gene expression programs through its signal-dependent repression of the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2). Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling promotes pathological cardiac remodeling by phosphorylating HDAC4, with consequent stimulation of MEF2 activity. Recently, we described a novel mechanism whereby protein kinase A (PKA) overcomes CaMKII-mediated activation of MEF2 by regulated proteolysis of HDAC4. PKA induces the generation of an N-terminal HDAC4 cleavage product (HDAC4-NT). HDAC4-NT inhibits MEF2 activity, thereby antagonizing the pro-hypertrophic actions of CaMKII signaling. However, the individual protease mediating HDAC4 proteolysis remains unknown. Using a number of group specific chemical protease inhibitors, we found that the PKA-dependent HDAC4 protease belongs to the family of serine proteases. To further identify the individual serine protease, we screened a human serine protease siRNA library and found abhydrolase domain containing 5 (ABHD5) to be required for PKA-induced HDAC4 proteolysis. The screening result was validated using three different siRNAs. Remarkably, forced adenoviral expression of ABHD5 led to robust production of HDAC4-NT in isolated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) even in the absence of PKA. Furthermore, adenoviral expression of ABHD5 in NRVMs inhibited MEF2 transcriptional activity and attenuated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Interestingly, ABHD5 was initially described to be involved in lipid metabolism. Taken together, we show that ABHD5 is required for PKA-dependent HDAC4 proteolysis and sufficient for HDAC4-NT production as well as inhibition of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. These data imply a so far unknown link between lipid metabolism and epigenetic regulation of cardioprotection.