The Induction of Histone H3K4 Methylation on the SI Gene Correlates with SI mRNA Levels in Enterocyte-Like Caco-2 Cells

Abstract

Background: Chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein (CHD) 1 is Histone H3 lysine 4 (K4) methylation is thought to be important for the transcriptional activation of genes during differentiation. Methods: mRNA and histone modification around SI gene in a small intestinal cell line Caco-2 during the differentiation were determined by qRT-PCR and Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, respectively. Results: Mono-, di- and tri-methylation of histone H3 K4 on the sucrase-isomaltase (SI) gene was associated with the induction of SI gene expression, RNA polymerase II binding and histones H3 and H4 acetylation close to the transcription initiation site during enterocyte-like differentiation in Caco-2 cells. Mono-methylation was prominent in the promoter/enhancer region, di-methylation was observed from the promoter/enhancer throughout the transcribed portion of the gene and tri-methylation was identified from the transcription initiation site throughout the transcribed region. Conclusions: Histone H3 K4 methylation is involved in SI gene induction during differentiation in Caco-2 cells, and that the induced mono-, di- and tri-methylation of histone H3 K4 in different regions of the SI gene may play different roles in SI gene induction.