Acetyltransferase Domain Research Articles

Molecular mechanism of transcription and epigenetic alteration at immunoglobulin variable gene heavy chain locus induced by GANP (IRM11P.761)

Abstract Epigenetic modification at IgV-region gene is the key base to generate somatic hypermutation (SHM) mediated by activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). However, the details how AID-targeting to the rearranged IgV-region locus have remained unclear. As a key player, we demonstrate that the histone-acetyl transferase activity of the germinal center-associated protein GANP is necessary for efficient AID-accession. GANP is upregulated in germinal center B-cells upon T-cell dependent antigen responses. GANP forms a complex with AID and accompanies into the nucleus. GANP co-precipitates with RNA polymerase II (Pol-II) and its stalling factor Spt5 that also interacts with AID, indicating that the recruitment of GANP to IgV-region locus undergoes transcription-coupled manner. GANP augments the transcription elongation toward the downstream of the IgV-region gene with active RNA Pol-II. The histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain of GANP is involved in the chromatin modification selectively at the rearranged IgV-region segment with the interference of nucleosome occupancy, controlling the accessibility of AID positioning at IgV-region gene. This suggests a specific role for the GANP associated complex in antigen specific high affinity B-cells.

Molecular basis of histone acetyllysine recognition by the BRPF1 bromodomain (537.1)

Covalent modifications on histone tails play a key role in determining the outcome of many nuclear processes including transcription, DNA repair, recombination, and replication. In humans, translocation of the monocytic leukemia zinc finger (MOZ) histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complex has been linked to a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). MOZ forms tetrameric complexes with ING5 (inhibitor of growth 5), EAF6 (Esa1‐associated factor 6 ortholog), and the bromodomain‐PHD finger protein. BRPF proteins have been shown to bridge the association of MOZ with ING5 and EAF6. Deletion mapping studies have also revealed that the acetyltransferase domain of MOZ is sufficient for the interaction with BRPF1. BRPF proteins therefore play a key role in assembling and activating MOZ acetyltransferase complexes. BRPF1 contains a unique combination of domains typically found in chromatin‐associated factors, including PHD (plant homeodomain) fingers, a bromodomain and a PWWP (Pro‐Trp‐Trp‐Pro) domain. The bromodomain and PWWP domain of BRPF1 help recruit MOZ to distinct sites of active chromatin. Bromodomains are highly conserved motifs generally known to acetylated lysines on the histone tail, but the ligands recognized by BRPF1 bromodomain are currently unknown. In this study we identified the N‐terminal histone tail ligands for the BRPF1 bromodomain, characterized the protein‐ligand binding affinities and determined the functional importance of these interactions. We also used extensive molecular dynamics simulations to generate structural models of bromodomain‐histone ligand complexes, to analyze H‐bonding and other interactions, and to calculate the binding free energies. Our results outline the molecular mechanism driving binding specificity of the BRPF1 bromodomain for discrete acetyllysine residues on the N‐terminal histone tails. A better understanding of this process will be important for the development of drugs to treat acute myeloid leukemia and other cancers.Grant Funding Source: NIH

Binding of the histone chaperone ASF1 to the CBP bromodomain promotes histone acetylation

The multifunctional Creb-binding protein (CBP) protein plays a pivotal role in many critical cellular processes. Here we demonstrate that the bromodomain of CBP binds to histone H3 acetylated on lysine 56 (K56Ac) with higher affinity than to its other monoacetylated binding partners. We show that autoacetylation of CBP is critical for the bromodomain-H3 K56Ac interaction, and we propose that this interaction occurs via autoacetylation-induced conformation changes in CBP. Unexpectedly, the bromodomain promotes acetylation of H3 K56 on free histones. The CBP bromodomain also interacts with the histone chaperone anti-silencing function 1 (ASF1) via a nearby but distinct interface. This interaction is necessary for ASF1 to promote acetylation of H3 K56 by CBP, indicating that the ASF1-bromodomain interaction physically delivers the histones to the histone acetyl transferase domain of CBP. A CBP bromodomain mutation manifested in Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome has compromised binding to both H3 K56Ac and ASF1, suggesting that these interactions are important for the normal function of CBP.

Naphthoquinone-mediated Inhibition of Lysine Acetyltransferase KAT3B/p300, Basis for Non-toxic Inhibitor Synthesis

Hydroxynaphthoquinone-based inhibitors of the lysine acetyltransferase KAT3B (p300), such as plumbagin, are relatively toxic. Here, we report that free thiol reactivity and redox cycling properties greatly contribute to the toxicity of plumbagin. A reactive 3rd position in the naphthoquinone derivatives is essential for thiol reactivity and enhances redox cycling. Using this clue, we synthesized PTK1, harboring a methyl substitution at the 3rd position of plumbagin. This molecule loses its thiol reactivity completely and its redox cycling ability to a lesser extent. Mechanistically, non-competitive, reversible binding of the inhibitor to the lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) domain of p300 is largely responsible for the acetyltransferase inhibition. Remarkably, the modified inhibitor PTK1 was a nearly non-toxic inhibitor of p300. The present report elucidates the mechanism of acetyltransferase activity inhibition by 1,4-naphthoquinones, which involves redox cycling and nucleophilic adduct formation, and it suggests possible routes of synthesis of the non-toxic inhibitor.

The leucine twenty homeobox (LEUTX) gene, which lacks a histone acetyltransferase domain, is fused to KAT6A in therapy‐related acute myeloid leukemia with t(8;19)(p11;q13)

The monocytic leukemia zinc finger protein KAT6A (formerly MOZ) gene is recurrently rearranged by chromosomal translocations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). KAT6A is known to be fused to several genes, all of which have histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity and interact with a number of transcription factors as a transcriptional coactivator. The present study shows that the leucine twenty homeobox (LEUTX) gene on 19q13 is fused to the KAT6A gene on 8p11 in a therapy-related AML with t(8;19)(p11;q13) using the cDNA bubble PCR method. The fusion transcripts contained 83 nucleotides upstream of the first ATG of LEUTX and are presumed to create in-frame fusion proteins. LEUTX is known to have a homeobox domain. Expression of the LEUTX gene was only detected in placenta RNA by RT-PCR, but not in any tissues by Northern blot analysis. The putative LEUTX protein does not contain any HAT domain, and this is the first study to report that KAT6A can fuse to the homeobox gene. The current study, with identification of a new partner gene to KAT6A in a therapy-related AML, does not elucidate the mechanisms of leukemogenesis in KAT6A-related AML but describes a new gene with a different putative function.

Dimeric structure of p300/CBP associated factor

Backgroundp300/CBP associating factor (PCAF, also known as KAT2B for lysine acetyltransferase 2B) is a catalytic subunit of megadalton metazoan complex ATAC (Ada-Two-A containing complex) for acetylation of histones. However, relatively little is known about the regulation of the enzymatic activity of PCAF.ResultsHere we present two dimeric structures of the PCAF acetyltransferase (HAT) domain. These dimerizations are mediated by either four-helical hydrophobic interactions or a ß-sheet extension. Our chemical cross-linking experiments in combined with site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that the PCAF HAT domain mainly forms a dimer in solution through one of the observed interfaces. The results of maltose binding protein (MBP)-pulldown, co-immunoprecipitation and multiangle static light scattering experiments further indicated that PCAF dimeric state is detectable and may possibly exist in vivo.ConclusionsTaken together, our structural and biochemical studies indicate that PCAF appears to be a dimer in its functional ATAC complex.

Inhibition of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity by HBZ extends beyond the p300/CBP HAT family

We previously reported that HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ) interacts with the cellular coactivator p300 in cells derived from ATL patients. We further determined that HBZ directly binds to the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain of both p300 and its homologue CBP. HAT activity transfers an acetyl group to lysine residues on histone tails and transcription factors to generally upregulate transcription. We observed that the HBZ interaction with the HAT domain of p300/CBP inhibits acetylation of histones and of the tumor suppressor p53. In this study, we wanted to determine whether inhibition of HAT activity was limited to p300/CBP or extended to other HAT families. We focused on the GCN5/ p/CAF and MYST HAT families. We found that HBZ co-immunoprecipitates with both p/CAF and HBO1. These data support a recent finding that HBZ interacts with HBO1 in a yeast two-hybrid assay. Through in vitro HAT assays using recombinant proteins we found that HBZ inhibits acetylation of histone H3 and histone H4 by p/CAF and HBO1, respectively. Furthermore, HBZ reduces acetylation of p53 by p/CAF. Since both p300 and p/CAF acetylate p53 to increase its DNA-binding activity, we performed quantitative RT-PCR to evaluate expression of the p53 target genes, GADD45A and NOXA. We observed reduced mRNA levels of these genes when cells expressed HBZ. Overall these results suggest that HBZ inhibits the HAT activity of coactivators from different HAT families to contribute to transcriptional deregulation.

Loss of MEC-17 Leads to Microtubule Instability and Axonal Degeneration

Axonal degeneration arises as a consequence of neuronal injury and is a common hallmark of a number of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the genetic causes and the cellular mechanisms that trigger this process are still largely unknown. Based on forward genetic screening in C.elegans, we have identified the α-tubulin acetyltransferase gene mec-17 as causing spontaneous, adult-onset, and progressive axonal degeneration. Loss of MEC-17 leads to microtubule instability, a reduction in mitochondrial number, and disrupted axonal transport, with altered distribution of both mitochondria and synaptic components. Furthermore, mec-17-mediated axonal degeneration occurs independently from its acetyltransferase domain; is enhanced by mutation of coel-1, a tubulin-associated molecule; and correlates with the animal's body length. This study therefore identifies a critical role for the conserved microtubule-associated protein MEC-17 in preserving axon integrity and preventing axonal degeneration.

The p38-interacting Protein (p38IP) Regulates G2/M Progression by Promoting α-Tubulin Acetylation via Inhibiting Ubiquitination-induced Degradation of the Acetyltransferase GCN5

p38-interacting protein (p38IP) is a component of the GCN5 histone acetyltransferase-containing coactivator complex (GCN5-SAGA complex). It remains unclear whether p38IP or GCN5-SAGA is involved in cell cycle regulation. Using RNA interference to knock down p38IP, we observed that cells were arrested at the G2/M phase, exhibiting accumulation of cyclins, shrunken spindles, and hypoacetylation of α-tubulin. Further analysis revealed that knockdown of p38IP led to proteasome-dependent degradation of GCN5. GCN5 associated with and acetylated α-tubulin, and recovering GCN5 protein levels in p38IP knockdown cells by ectopic expression of GCN5 efficiently reversed α-tubulin hypoacetylation and G2/M arrest. During the G2/M transition, the association of α-tubulin with GCN5 increased, and the acetylation of α-tubulin reached a peak. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that the interaction between p38IP and GCN5 depended on the p38IP N terminus (1-381 amino acids) and GCN5 histone acetyltransferase domain and bromodomain. The p38IP N terminus could effectively reverse p38IP depletion-induced GCN5 degradation, thus recovering α-tubulin acetylation and G2/M progression. p38IP-mediated suppression of GCN5 ubiquitination most likely occurs via nuclear sequestration of GCN5. Our data indicate that the GCN5-SAGA complex is required for G2/M progression, mainly because p38IP promotes the acetylation of α-tubulin by preventing the degradation of GCN5, in turn facilitating the formation of the mitotic spindle.

Accumulation Of Gene Alterations Of TP53, Crebbp and IKZF1 Is a Prognostic Factor In Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

▪ AimsMutations of the genes associating with cell differentiation or proliferation are recognized as factors of tumorigenesis or prognosis in hematological malignancies. In pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), alterations of IKZF1 (a factor of lymphocyte differentiation), TP53 (a cell cycle regulator) and CREBBP (a histone modifier) are found as possible prognostic markers for stratification of treatments. On the other hand, in adult ALL, clinical significance of such alterations remains to be determined. In the present work, we examined whether the mutations in those genes affected the incidence and prognosis in adult ALL patients. MethodsWe investigated 87 adult patients with newly diagnosed ALL treated with JALSG protocols between 1986 and 2011. Age ranged from 15 to 86 years, with a median of 51 years. We obtained cDNA and genomic DNA from the peripheral blood or bone marrow mononuclear cells at diagnosis. CREBBP mutations are dominantly identified in the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain. HAT domain in the CREBBP gene was amplified by PCR using cDNA and was subjected to direct sequencing. Additionally other histone modifiers, EZH2, EED, and UTX, were sequenced as the same as in CREBBP. TP53 exons 5 – 8 and 10, in which mutations were commonly reported, were sequenced using genomic DNA. We amplified IKZF1 using RT-PCR for detecting aberrant dominant negative isoforms: Ik6 and Ik10. Genomic deletions of IKZF1 were assessed with RQ-PCR or genomic DNA PCR. We compared clinical profiles between patients with and without such gene mutations. The present study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards and informed consent was obtained from each patient according to guidelines based on the revised Declaration of Helsinki. ResultsIn 87 adult patients with ALL, alterations of CREBBP, EED, TP53 and IKZF1 were detected in 7 (9.5%), 3 (4.8%), 6 (6.9%) and 42 (50%), respectively. None of EZH2 and UTX mutation was found. The alterations of CREBBP and IKZF1 at diagnosis in adult patients were more frequent than those in pediatric patients ever reported. Some gene mutations were not found frequently. Each gene mutation per se did not significantly affect prognosis. We tried to predict the prognosis by scoring gene mutations and chromosomal abnormalities. Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) has great impact to prognosis of patients with ALL. We scored the number of mutated genes and Ph for each patient. As the score was higher, adult patients with ALL had poorer relapse-free survival (P=0.0439) and OS (P=0.4819), but statistical significance was not detected in this small cohort. Conclusions and DiscussionSingle gene mutations, such as IKZF1, can predict the prognosis in pediatric ALL. In adult ALL, however, only few gene mutations are reported to be promising prognostic factors which have impacts to treatment outcomes. Scoring system may be a useful method for predicting prognosis and stratifying treatment in adult ALL. Our study implies the possibility that a variety and heterogeneity of genetic alterations in adult ALL are associated with the pathogenesis for treatment resistance and prognostic marker of adult ALL. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Biochemical Analysis and Structure Determination of Bacterial Acetyltransferases Responsible for the Biosynthesis of UDP-N,N′-Diacetylbacillosamine

UDP-N,N'-diacetylbacillosamine (UDP-diNAcBac) is a unique carbohydrate produced by a number of bacterial species and has been implicated in pathogenesis. The terminal step in the formation of this important bacterial sugar is catalyzed by an acetyl-CoA (AcCoA)-dependent acetyltransferase in both N- and O-linked protein glycosylation pathways. This bacterial acetyltransferase is a member of the left-handed β-helix family and forms a homotrimer as the functional unit. Whereas previous endeavors have focused on the Campylobacter jejuni acetyltransferase (PglD) from the N-linked glycosylation pathway, structural characterization of the homologous enzymes in the O-linked glycosylation pathways is lacking. Herein, we present the apo-crystal structures of the acetyltransferase domain (ATD) from the bifunctional enzyme PglB (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and the full-length acetyltransferase WeeI (Acinetobacter baumannii). Additionally, a PglB-ATD structure was solved in complex with AcCoA. Surprisingly, this structure reveals a contrasting binding mechanism for this substrate when compared with the AcCoA-bound PglD structure. A comparison between these findings and the previously solved PglD crystal structures illustrates a dichotomy among N- and O-linked glycosylation pathway enzymes. Based upon these structures, key residues in the UDP-4-amino and AcCoA binding pockets were mutated to determine their effect on binding and catalysis in PglD, PglB-ATD, and WeeI. Last, a phylogenetic analysis of the aforementioned acetyltransferases was employed to illuminate the diversity among N- and O-linked glycosylation pathway enzymes.

A novel type of N-acetylglutamate synthase is involved in the first step of arginine biosynthesis in Corynebacterium glutamicum

BackgroundArginine biosynthesis in Corynebacterium glutamicum consists of eight enzymatic steps, starting with acetylation of glutamate, catalysed by N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS). There are different kinds of known NAGSs, for example, “classical” ArgA, bifunctional ArgJ, ArgO, and S-NAGS. However, since C. glutamicum possesses a monofunctional ArgJ, which catalyses only the fifth step of the arginine biosynthesis pathway, glutamate must be acetylated by an as of yet unknown NAGS gene.ResultsArginine biosynthesis was investigated by metabolome profiling using defined gene deletion mutants that were expected to accumulate corresponding intracellular metabolites. HPLC-ESI-qTOF analyses gave detailed insights into arginine metabolism by detecting six out of seven intermediates of arginine biosynthesis. Accumulation of N-acetylglutamate in all mutants was a further confirmation of the unknown NAGS activity. To elucidate the identity of this gene, a genomic library of C. glutamicum was created and used to complement an Escherichia coli ΔargA mutant. The plasmid identified, which allowed functional complementation, contained part of gene cg3035, which contains an acetyltransferase domain in its amino acid sequence. Deletion of cg3035 in the C. glutamicum genome led to a partial auxotrophy for arginine. Heterologous overexpression of the entire cg3035 gene verified its ability to complement the E. coli ΔargA mutant in vivo and homologous overexpression led to a significantly higher intracellular N-acetylglutamate pool. Enzyme assays confirmed the N-acetylglutamate synthase activity of Cg3035 in vitro. However, the amino acid sequence of Cg3035 revealed no similarities to members of known NAGS gene families.ConclusionsThe N-acetylglutamate synthase Cg3035 is able to catalyse the first step of arginine biosynthesis in C. glutamicum. It represents a novel class of NAGS genes apparently present only in bacteria of the suborder Corynebacterineae, comprising amongst others the genera Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium, and Nocardia. Therefore, the name C-NAGS (Corynebacterineae-type NAGS) is proposed for this new family.

AtCTF7 is required for establishment of sister chromatid cohesion and association of cohesin with chromatin during meiosis in Arabidopsis

BackgroundThe establishment of sister chromatid cohesion followed by its controlled release at the metaphase to anaphase transition is necessary for faithful segregation of chromosomes in mitosis and meiosis. Cohesion is established by the action of Ctf7/Eco1 on the cohesin complex during DNA replication following loading of cohesin onto chromatin by the Scc2-Scc4 complex. Ctf7 is also required for sister chromatid cohesion during repair of DNA double strand breaks. Ctf7 contains an acetyltransferase domain and a zinc finger motif and acetylates conserved lysine residues in the Smc3 subunit of cohesin. In Arabidopsis CTF7 is encoded by a single gene and mutations in AtCTF7 cause embryo lethality indicating that the gene is essential.ResultsTo study the function of Ctf7 in plants and to determine its role in sister chromatid cohesion, we constructed a conditional allele of AtCTF7 in Arabidopsis using an inducible RNA interference (RNAi) strategy, so as to avoid the embryo lethality caused by mutations in AtCTF7. We found that induction of RNAi against AtCTF7 caused severe inhibition and defects in growth during vegetative and reproductive stages as well as sterility. AtCTF7-RNAi plants displayed chromosome fragmentation and loss of sister chromatid cohesion during meiosis. Immunostaining for the cohesion subunit AtSCC3 showed a marked reduction in association of cohesin with chromatin during meiosis in AtCTF7-RNAi plants.ConclusionsWe find that AtCTF7 is essential for sister chromatid cohesion during meiosis in Arabidopsis and is required for association of cohesin with chromatin in prophase of meiosis.

Elongator subunit 3 positively regulates plant immunity through its histone acetyltransferase and radical S-adenosylmethionine domains

BackgroundPathogen infection triggers a large-scale transcriptional reprogramming in plants, and the speed of this reprogramming affects the outcome of the infection. Our understanding of this process has significantly benefited from mutants that display either delayed or accelerated defense gene induction. In our previous work we demonstrated that the Arabidopsis Elongator complex subunit 2 (AtELP2) plays an important role in both basal immunity and effector-triggered immunity (ETI), and more recently showed that AtELP2 is involved in dynamic changes in histone acetylation and DNA methylation at several defense genes. However, the function of other Elongator subunits in plant immunity has not been characterized.ResultsIn the same genetic screen used to identify Atelp2, we found another Elongator mutant, Atelp3-10, which mimics Atelp2 in that it exhibits a delay in defense gene induction following salicylic acid treatment or pathogen infection. Similarly to AtELP2, AtELP3 is required for basal immunity and ETI, but not for systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Furthermore, we demonstrate that both the histone acetyltransferase and radical S-adenosylmethionine domains of AtELP3 are essential for its function in plant immunity.ConclusionOur results indicate that the entire Elongator complex is involved in basal immunity and ETI, but not in SAR, and support that Elongator may play a role in facilitating the transcriptional induction of defense genes through alterations to their chromatin.

GANP regulates recruitment of AID to immunoglobulin variable regions by modulating transcription and nucleosome occupancy

Somatic hypermutation in B cells is initiated by activation-induced cytidine deaminase-catalyzed C→U deamination at immunoglobulin variable regions. Here we investigate the role of the germinal centre-associated nuclear protein (GANP) in enhancing the access of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) to immunoglobulin variable regions. We show that the nuclear export factor GANP is involved in chromatin modification at rearranged immunoglobulin variable loci, and its activity requires a histone acetyltransferase domain. GANP interacts with the transcription stalling protein Spt5 and facilitates RNA Pol-II recruitment to immunoglobulin variable regions. Germinal centre B cells from ganp-transgenic mice showed a higher AID occupancy at the immunoglobulin variable region, whereas B cells from conditional ganp-knockout mice exhibit a lower AID accessibility. These findings suggest that GANP-mediated chromatin modification promotes transcription complex recruitment and positioning at immunoglobulin variable loci to favour AID targeting.

PSG Gene Expression Is Up-Regulated by Lysine Acetylation Involving Histone and Nonhistone Proteins

BackgroundLysine acetylation is an important post-translational modification that plays a central role in eukaryotic transcriptional activation by modifying chromatin and transcription-related factors. Human pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSG) are the major secreted placental proteins expressed by the syncytiotrophoblast at the end of pregnancy and represent early markers of cytotrophoblast differentiation. Low PSG levels are associated with complicated pregnancies, thus highlighting the importance of studying the mechanisms that control their expression. Despite several transcription factors having been implicated as key regulators of PSG gene family expression; the role of protein acetylation has not been explored.Methodology/Principal FindingsHere, we explored the role of acetylation on PSG gene expression in the human placental-derived JEG-3 cell line. Pharmacological inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs) up-regulated PSG protein and mRNA expression levels, and augmented the amount of acetylated histone H3 associated with PSG 5′regulatory regions. Moreover, PSG5 promoter activation mediated by Sp1 and KLF6, via the core promoter element motif (CPE, −147/−140), was markedly enhanced in the presence of the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA). This effect correlated with an increase in Sp1 acetylation and KLF6 nuclear localization as revealed by immunoprecipitation and subcellular fractionation assays. The co-activators PCAF, p300, and CBP enhanced Sp1-dependent PSG5 promoter activation through their histone acetylase (HAT) function. Instead, p300 and CBP acetyltransferase domain was dispensable for sustaining co-activation of PSG5 promoter by KLF6.Conclusions/SignificanceResults are consistent with a regulatory role of lysine acetylation on PSG expression through a relaxed chromatin state and an increase in the transcriptional activity of Sp1 and KLF6 following an augmented Sp1 acetylation and KLF6 nuclear localization.

Transcriptional/epigenetic regulator CBP/p300 in tumorigenesis: structural and functional versatility in target recognition

In eukaryotic cells, gene transcription is regulated by sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factors that recognize promoter and enhancer elements near the transcriptional start site. Some coactivators promote transcription by connecting transcription factors to the basal transcriptional machinery. The highly conserved coactivators CREB-binding protein (CBP) and its paralog, E1A-binding protein (p300), each have four separate transactivation domains (TADs) that interact with the TADs of a number of DNA-binding transcription activators as well as general transcription factors (GTFs), thus mediating recruitment of basal transcription machinery to the promoter. Most promoters comprise multiple activator-binding sites, and many activators contain tandem TADs, thus multivalent interactions may stabilize CBP/p300 at the promoter, and intrinsically disordered regions in CBP/p300 and many activators may confer adaptability to these multivalent complexes. CBP/p300 contains a catalytic histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain, which remodels chromatin to 'relax' its superstructure and enables transcription of proximal genes. The HAT activity of CBP/p300 also acetylates some transcription factors (e.g., p53), hence modulating the function of key transcriptional regulators. Through these numerous interactions, CBP/p300 has been implicated in complex physiological and pathological processes, and, in response to different signals, can drive cells towards proliferation or apoptosis. Dysregulation of the transcriptional and epigenetic functions of CBP/p300 is associated with leukemia and other types of cancer, thus it has been recognized as a potential anti-cancer drug target. In this review, we focus on recent exciting findings in the structural mechanisms of CBP/p300 involving multivalent and dynamic interactions with binding partners, which may pave new avenues for anti-cancer drug development.

Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification detection of an unknown large deletion of the CREB-binding protein gene in a patient with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant congenital disorder characterized by postnatal growth retardation, psychomotor developmental delay, skeletal anomalies, peculiar facial morphology, and tumorigenesis. Mutations in the gene encoding the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB, also known as CREBBP or CBP) on chromosome 16p13.3 have been identified. In addition, some patients with low intelligence quotients and autistic features bear large deletions. Based on these observations, we used multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification to search for large deletions affecting the CREBBP gene in a Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome patient. We identified a novel heterozygote deletion removing five exons (exons 17-21), encoding the histone acetyltransferase domain. We propose the use of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification as a fast, accurate and cheap test for detecting large deletions in the CREBBP gene in the sub-group of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome patients with low intelligence quotients and autistic features.

Crebbp HAT Domain Mutations Are Frequently Detected in Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract 1419 Aims:Molecular pathogenesis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has largely been verified in pediatric patients and the identification of genetic alterations have contributed to stratifying therapeutic applications. In adult patients with ALL, cytogenetic and genetic abnormalities have not sufficiently been elucidated and therapeutic improvement has been hindered. CREB binding protein (CREBBP) is a transcriptional coactivator that interacts with a diverse range of transcription factors and regulates transcription by histone acetylation in hematopoiesis. Mutations of the CREBBP gene are recently found in approximately 2–4% of pediatric patients with ALL. Especially in relapsed cases, the mutations prevail (18–63%) and are possible markers for prediction of relapse in pediatric ALL. In adult patients with ALL, the clinical significance of CREBBP mutations remains to be determined. Here we examined adult ALL patients in an attempt to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics and prognostic impact of the CREBBP mutations. Methods:We investigated 71 adult patients with newly diagnosed ALL treated with JALSG protocols between 1986 and 2010. Age ranged from 15 to 86 years, with a median of 54 years. CREBBP mutations are dominantly identified in histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain. HAT domain in the CREBBP gene was amplified with RT-PCR using RNA isolated from the peripheral blood or bone marrow mononuclear cells at diagnosis and was subjected to direct sequencing. We compared clinical profiles between patients with and without CREBBPHAT domain mutations. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards and informed consent was obtained from each patient according to guidelines based on the revised Declaration of Helsinki. Results:CREBBP HAT domain mutations were detected in 8 of 71 (11.3%) patients: one nonsense mutation, five insertion mutations with frameshifts, and five missense mutations. Two patients harbored biallelic mutations. The mutations at diagnosis in adult patients were seen more frequently than those in pediatric patients ever reported. Such mutations were not completely identical to those detected in pediatric ALL, but were seen in the region within the HAT domain, indicating that such mutations are loss-of-function mutations. The mutations were found in both B-cell (6/53: 11.3%) and T-cell (1/9: 11.1%) ALL, and distributed in patients harboring IKZF1 alterations (3/31: 9.7%) or the BCR-ABL fusion gene (2/19: 10.5%). There were no statistical difference in age, sex, leukocyte, platelet counts and complete remission rate between patients with and without the CREBBP HAT domain mutations. Patients with the mutations had a trend with worse cumulative incidence of relapse (P=0.4637), relapse-free survival (P=0.4195) and OS (P=0.2349) compared to patients lacking the mutations, but statistical significance was not detected in this small cohort. Conclusions:CREBBP HAT domain mutations at diagnosis in adult ALL are found more frequently than in pediatric ALL. This may be one of the mechanisms that adult ALL has been associated with poor OS compared with pediatric ALL. In this study, CREBBP HAT domain mutations were observed in various subtypes of ALL: both B-cell and T-cell ALL, and both Philadelphia chromosome positive and negative ALL. In pediatric ALL, CREBBP mutations were frequently seen in relapsed patients but not in previously untreated patients. These observations suggest that CREBBP mutations play an important role in an additional late event(s) leading to the development and progression of ALL. Our study implies the possibility that mutations of the CREBBP gene are associated with the pathogenesis and prognostic marker of adult ALL and represent specific epigenetic modifiers in adult ALL, serving as potential therapeutic targets. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Cloning and characterization of two genes coding for the histone acetyltransferases, Elp3 and Mof, in brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)

Histone acetylation is a vital mechanism for the post-translational modifications of chromatin components. Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) are critical elements that determine histone acetylation and regulate chromatin dynamics and gene expression. While histone acetyltransferases have been well studied in mammals and Drosophila melanogaster, information from agriculturally important insect pests is still limited. In our effort to understand the epigenetic mechanisms regulating development in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Geometroidea), a major rice pest in many parts of Asia, two full-length cDNA sequences encoding HAT members of the GNAT and MYST family, namely NlElp3 and NlMof, respectively, were isolated and structurally and phylogenetically characterized. The NlElp3 contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 1656bp encoding a protein of 551 amino acids. The NlMof contains a 1353bp ORF encoding a protein of 450 amino acids. Sequence analysis showed that NlElp3 contains GNAT-type HAT domain and Radical SAM domain, and NlMof contains chromodomain and MOZ-SAS acetyltransferase domain. Multiple sequence alignments showed that NlElp3 and NlMof have high amino acid sequence identity with other insect homologues. Expression analysis of the NlElp3 and NlMof revealed significant differences in mRNA expression levels among N. lugens developmental stages, suggesting that HAT activities of NlElp3 and NlMof may be controlled, at least in part, by their developmental regulation. Remarkably, the mRNA expression levels of NlElp3 and NlMof in female adults were significantly higher than that in male adults, supporting an important role for both genes in female reproductive function in N. lugens.