Histone demethylase KDM5A is regulated by its reader domain through a positive-feedback mechanism

Understanding the interplay between CpG island-associated gene promoters and H3K4 methylation

The precise regulation of gene transcription is required to establish and maintain cell type-specific gene expression programs during multicellular development. In addition to transcription factors, chromatin, and its chemical modification, play a central role in regulating gene expression. In vertebrates, DNA is pervasively methylated at CG dinucleotides, a modification that is repressive to transcription. However, approximately 70% of vertebrate gene promoters are associated with DNA elements called CpG islands (CGIs) that are refractory to DNA methylation. CGIs integrate the activity of a range of chromatin-regulating factors that can post-translationally modify histones and modulate gene expression. This is exemplified by the trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me3), which is enriched at CGI-associated gene promoters and correlates with transcriptional activity. Through studying H3K4me3 at CGIs it has become clear that CGIs shape the distribution of H3K4me3 and, in turn, H3K4me3 influences the chromatin landscape at CGIs. Here we will discuss our understanding of the emerging relationship between CGIs, H3K4me3, and gene expression.

Extended Recognition of the Histone H3 Tail by Histone Demethylase KDM5A

Human lysine demethylase KDM5A is a chromatin-modifying enzyme associated with transcriptional regulation, because of its ability to catalyze removal of methyl groups from methylated lysine 4 of histone H3 (H3K4me3). Amplification of KDM5A is observed in many cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, and gastric cancer. In this study, we employed alanine scanning mutagenesis to investigate substrate recognition of KDM5A and identify the H3 tail residues necessary for KDM5A-catalyzed demethylation. Our data show that the H3Q5 residue is critical for substrate recognition by KDM5A. Our data also reveal that the protein-protein interactions between KDM5A and the histone H3 tail extend beyond the amino acids proximal to the substrate mark. Specifically, demethylation activity assays show that deletion or mutation of residues at positions 14-18 on the H3 tail results in an 8-fold increase in the K_M^app, compared to wild-type 18mer peptide, suggesting that this distal epitope is important in histone engagement. Finally, we demonstrate that post-translational modifications on this distal epitope can modulate KDM5A-dependent demethylation. Our findings provide insights into H3K4-specific recognition by KDM5A, as well as how chromatin context can regulate KDM5A activity and H3K4 methylation status.

HDAC1 negatively regulates selective mitotic chromatin binding of the Notch effector RBPJ in a KDM5A-dependent manner

Faithful propagation of transcription programs through cell division underlies cell-identity maintenance. Transcriptional regulators selectively bound on mitotic chromatin are emerging critical elements for mitotic transcriptional memory; however, mechanisms governing their site-selective binding remain elusive. By studying how protein-protein interactions impact mitotic chromatin binding of RBPJ, the major downstream effector of the Notch signaling pathway, we found that histone modifying enzymes HDAC1 and KDM5A play critical, regulatory roles in this process. We found that HDAC1 knockdown or inactivation leads to increased RBPJ occupancy on mitotic chromatin in a site-specific manner, with a concomitant increase of KDM5A occupancy at these sites. Strikingly, the presence of KDM5A is essential for increased RBPJ occupancy. Our results uncover a regulatory mechanism in which HDAC1 negatively regulates RBPJ binding on mitotic chromatin in a KDM5A-dependent manner. We propose that relative chromatin affinity of a minimal regulatory complex, reflecting a specific transcription program, renders selective RBPJ binding on mitotic chromatin.

C8-substituted pyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones: Studies towards the identification of potent, cell penetrant Jumonji C domain containing histone lysine demethylase 4 subfamily (KDM4) inhibitors, compound profiling in cell-based target engagement assays

Residues in the histone substrate binding sites that differ between the KDM4 and KDM5 subfamilies were identified. Subsequently, a C8-substituted pyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one series was designed to rationally exploit these residue differences between the histone substrate binding sites in order to improve affinity for the KDM4-subfamily over KDM5-subfamily enzymes. In particular, residues E169 and V313 (KDM4A numbering) were targeted. Additionally, conformational restriction of the flexible pyridopyrimidinone C8-substituent was investigated. These approaches yielded potent and cell-penetrant dual KDM4/5-subfamily inhibitors including 19a (KDM4A and KDM5B Ki = 0.004 and 0.007 μM, respectively). Compound cellular profiling in two orthogonal target engagement assays revealed a significant reduction from biochemical to cell-based activity across multiple analogues; this decrease was shown to be consistent with 2OG competition, and suggests that sub-nanomolar biochemical potency will be required with C8-substituted pyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one compounds to achieve sub-micromolar target inhibition in cells.

Protein Interactions at Oxidized 5-Methylcytosine Bases

5-Methylcytosine (5mC), the major modified DNA base in mammalian cells, can be oxidized enzymatically to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) by the Ten-Eleven-Translocation (TET) family of proteins. Whereas 5fC and 5caC are recognized and removed by base excision repair proteins, the 5hmC base accumulates to substantial levels in certain cell types such as brain-derived neurons and is viewed as a relatively stable DNA base. As such, the existence of "reader" proteins that recognize 5hmC would be a logical assumption, and various searches have been undertaken to identify proteins that specifically bind to 5hmC and the other oxidized 5mC bases. However, the existence of definitive 5hmC "readers" has remained unclear and proteins interacting specifically with 5fC or 5caC are also very few. On the other hand, 5hmC is incapable of interacting with a number of proteins that recognize 5mC at CpG sequences, suggesting that 5hmC is an anti-reader modification that may serve to displace 5mC readers from DNA. In this review article, we discuss candidate proteins that may interact with oxidized 5mC bases.

Dynamic site-specific recruitment of RBP2 by pocket protein p130 modulates H3K4 methylation on E2F-responsive promoters

The Histone 3 lysine 4 methylation (H3K4me3) mark closely correlates with active transcription. E2F-responsive promoters display dynamic changes in H3K4 methylation during the course of cell cycle progression. However, how and when these marks are reset, is not known. Here we show that the retinoblastoma binding protein RBP2/KDM5A, capable of removing tri-methylation marks on H3K4, associates with the E2F4 transcription factor via the pocket protein-p130-in a cell-cycle-stage specific manner. The association of RBP2 with p130 is LxCxE motif dependent. RNAi experiments reveal that p130 recruits RBP2 to E2F-responsive promoters in early G1 phase to bring about H3K4 demethylation and gene repression. A point mutation in LxCxE motif of RBP2 renders it incapable of p130-interaction and hence, repression of E2F-regulated gene promoters. We also examine how RBP2 may be recruited to non-E2F responsive promoters. Our studies provide insight into how the chromatin landscape needs to be adjusted rapidly and periodically during cell-cycle progression, concomitantly with temporal transcription, to bring about expression/repression of specific gene sets.

A Drosophila Model of Intellectual Disability Caused by Mutations in the Histone Demethylase KDM5

Mutations in KDM5 family histone demethylases cause intellectual disability in humans. However, the molecular mechanisms linking KDM5-regulated transcription and cognition remain unknown. Here, we establish Drosophila as a model to understand this connection by generating a fly strain harboring an allele analogous to a disease-causing missense mutation in human KDM5C (kdm5^A512P). Transcriptome analysis of kdm5^A512P flies revealed a striking downregulation of genes required for ribosomal assembly and function and a concomitant reduction in translation. kdm5^A512P flies also showed impaired learning and/or memory. Significantly, the behavioral and transcriptional changes in kdm5^A512P flies were similar to those specifically lacking demethylase activity. These data suggest that the primary defect of the KDM5^A512P mutation is a loss of histone demethylase activity and reveal an unexpected role for this enzymatic function in gene activation. Because translation is critical for neuronal function, we propose that this defect contributes to the cognitive defects of kdm5^A512P flies.

Allele-Specific Inhibition of Histone Demethylases

Histone demethylases play a critical role in mammalian gene expression by removing methyl groups from lysine residues in degree- and site-specific manner. To specifically interrogate members and isoforms of this class of enzymes, we have developed demethylase variants with an expanded active site. The mutant enzymes are capable of performing lysine demethylation with wild-type proficiency, but are sensitive to inhibition by cofactor-competitive molecules embellished with a complementary steric "bump". The selected inhibitors show more than 20-fold selectivity over the wild-type demethylase, thus overcoming issues typical to pharmacological and genetic approaches. The mutant-inhibitor pairs are shown to act on a physiologically relevant full-length substrate. By engineering a conserved amino acid to achieve member-specific perturbation, this study provides a general approach for studying histone demethylases in diverse cellular processes.

The Set1 complex is dimeric and acts with Jhd2 demethylation to convey symmetrical H3K4 trimethylation

In this study, Choudhury et al. report that yeast Set1C/COMPASS is dimeric and, consequently, symmetrically trimethylates histone 3 Lys4 (H3K4me3) on promoter nucleosomes. This presents a new paradigm for the establishment of epigenetic detail, in which dimeric methyltransferase and monomeric demethylase cooperate to eliminate asymmetry and focus symmetrical H3K4me3 onto selected nucleosomes.

Epigenetic modifications can maintain or alter the inherent symmetry of the nucleosome. However, the mechanisms that deposit and/or propagate symmetry or asymmetry are not understood. Here we report that yeast Set1C/COMPASS (complex of proteins associated with Set1) is dimeric and, consequently, symmetrically trimethylates histone 3 Lys4 (H3K4me3) on promoter nucleosomes. Mutation of the dimer interface to make Set1C monomeric abolished H3K4me3 on most promoters. The most active promoters, particularly those involved in the oxidative phase of the yeast metabolic cycle, displayed H3K4me2, which is normally excluded from active promoters, and a subset of these also displayed H3K4me3. In wild-type yeast, deletion of the sole H3K4 demethylase, Jhd2, has no effect. However, in monomeric Set1C yeast, Jhd2 deletion increased H3K4me3 levels on the H3K4me2 promoters. Notably, the association of Set1C with the elongating polymerase was not perturbed by monomerization. These results imply that symmetrical H3K4 methylation is an embedded consequence of Set1C dimerism and that Jhd2 demethylates asymmetric H3K4me3. Consequently, rather than methylation and demethylation acting in opposition as logic would suggest, a dimeric methyltransferase and monomeric demethylase cooperate to eliminate asymmetry and focus symmetrical H3K4me3 onto selected nucleosomes. This presents a new paradigm for the establishment of epigenetic detail.

Histone H3 binding to the PHD1 domain of histone demethylase KDM5A enables active site remodeling

Histone demethylase KDM5A removes methyl marks from lysine 4 of histone H3 and is often overexpressed in cancer. The in vitro demethylase activity of KDM5A is allosterically enhanced by binding of its product, unmodified H3 peptides, to its PHD1 reader domain. However, the molecular basis of this allosteric enhancement is unclear. Here we show that saturation of the PHD1 domain by the H3 N-terminal tail peptides stabilizes binding of the substrate to the catalytic domain and improves the catalytic efficiency of demethylation. When present in saturating concentrations, differently modified H3 N-terminal tail peptides have a similar effect on demethylation. However, they vary greatly in their affinity towards the PHD1 domain, suggesting that H3 modifications can tune KDM5A activity. Furthermore, hydrogen/deuterium exchange coupled with mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) experiments reveal conformational changes in the allosterically enhanced state. Our findings may enable future development of anti-cancer therapies targeting regions involved in allosteric regulation.

The demethylase activity of KDM5A is allosterically enhanced by binding of histone H3 to its PHD1 reader domain, through an unknown mechanism. Here the authors show that the PHD1 domain drives ligand-induced allosteric stimulation by stabilizing the binding of substrate to the catalytic domain.

CylA is a sequence-specific protease involved in toxin biosynthesis

CylA is a subtilisin-like protein belonging to a recently expanded serine protease family related to class II lanthipeptide biosynthesis. As a leader peptidase, CylA is responsible for maturation of the enterococcal cytolysin, a lantibiotic important for Enterococcus faecalis virulence. In vitro reconstitution of CylA reveals that it accepts both linear and modified cytolysin peptides with a preference for cyclized peptides. Further characterization indicates that CylA activates itself by removing its N-terminal 95 amino acids. CylA achieves sequence-specific traceless cleavage of non-cognate peptides even if they are post-translationally modified, which makes the peptidase a powerful tool for mining novel lanthipeptides by providing a general strategy for leader peptide removal. Knowledge about the substrate specificity of CylA may also facilitate the development of protease inhibitors targeting cytolysin biosynthesis as a potential therapeutic approach for enterococcal infections.

Investigations on small molecule inhibitors targeting the histone H3K4 tri-methyllysine binding PHD-finger of JmjC histone demethylases

Plant homeodomain (PHD) containing proteins are important epigenetic regulators and are of interest as potential drug targets. Inspired by the amiodarone derivatives reported to inhibit the PHD finger 3 of KDM5A (KDM5A(PHD3)), a set of compounds were synthesised. Amiodarone and its derivatives were observed to weakly disrupt the interactions of a histone H3K4me3 peptide with KDM5A(PHD3). Selected amiodarone derivatives inhibited catalysis of KDM5A, but in a PHD-finger independent manner. Amiodarone derivatives also bind to H3K4me3-binding PHD-fingers from the KDM7 subfamily. Further work is required to develop potent and selective PHD finger inhibitors.

Multivalent Chromatin Engagement and Inter-domain Crosstalk Regulate MORC3 ATPase

MORC3 is linked to inflammatory myopathies and cancer; however, the precise role of MORC3 in normal cell physiology and disease remains poorly understood. Here, we present detailed genetic, biochemical, and structural analyses of MORC3. We demonstrate that MORC3 is significantly upregulated in Down syndrome and that genetic abnormalities in MORC3 are associated with cancer. The CW domain of MORC3 binds to the methylated histone H3K4 tail, and this interaction is essential for recruitment of MORC3 to chromatin and accumulation in nuclear bodies. We show that MORC3 possesses intrinsic ATPase activity that requires DNA, but it is negatively regulated by the CW domain, which interacts with the ATPase domain. Natively linked CW impedes binding of the ATPase domain to DNA, resulting in a decrease in the DNA-stimulated enzymatic activity. Collectively, our studies provide a molecular framework detailing MORC3 functions and suggest that its modulation may contribute to human disease.

Caught with One's Zinc Fingers in the Genome Integrity Cookie Jar

Zinc finger (ZnF) domains are present in at least 5% of human proteins. First characterized as binding to DNA, ZnFs display extraordinary binding plasticity and can bind to RNA, lipids, proteins, and protein post-translational modifications (PTMs). The diverse binding properties of ZnFs have made their functional characterization challenging. While once confined to large and poorly characterized protein families, proteomic, cellular, and molecular studies have begun to shed light on their involvement as protectors of the genome. We focus here on the emergent roles of ZnF domain-containing proteins in promoting genome integrity, including their involvement in telomere maintenance and DNA repair. These findings have highlighted the need for further characterization of ZnF proteins, which can reveal the functions of this large gene class in normal cell function and human diseases, including those involving genome instability such as aging and cancer.

Characteristics of a PHD Finger Subtype

Although the plant homeodomain (PHD) finger superfamily is known for its site-specific readouts of histone tails, the origins of the mechanistic differences in histone H3 readout by different PHD subtypes remain less clear. We show that sequences containing the xCDxCDx motif in the PHD treble clef (xCDxCDx-PHD) constitute a distinct subtype, based on the following observations: (i) the amino acid composition of the binding site is strikingly different from other subtypes due to position-specific enrichment of negatively charged and bulky nonpolar residues, (ii) the binding site positions are mutually and positively correlated, and this correlation is absent in other subtypes, and (iii) there are only small structural deviations, despite low sequence similarity. The xCDxCDx-PHD constitutes ∼20% of the PHD family, and the double PHD fingers (DPFs) are 10% of the total number of xCDxCDx-PHDs. This subtype originated early in the evolution of eukaryotes but has diversified within the metazoan lineage. Despite sequence diversification, the positions of the enriched nonpolar residues, in particular, show very small structural deviations, suggesting critical contributions of nonpolar residues in the binding mechanism of this subtype. Using mutagenesis, we probed the contributions of the binding-site positions enriched in nonpolar residues in four xCDxCDx-PHD proteins and found that they contribute to the tight packing of the H3 residues. This effect may potentially be exploited, as we observed affinity enhancement upon substituting a bulky nonpolar residue at the same binding site in another histone reader. Overall, we present a detailed characterization of PHD subtypes.

JARID1 Histone Demethylases: Emerging Targets in Cancer

JARID1 proteins are histone demethylases that both regulate normal cell fates during development and contribute to the epigenetic plasticity that underlies malignant transformation. This H3K4 demethylase family participates in multiple repressive transcriptional complexes at promoters and has broader regulatory effects on chromatin that remain ill-defined. There is growing understanding of the oncogenic and tumor suppressive functions of JARID1 proteins, which are contingent on cell context and the protein isoform. Their contributions to stem cell-like dedifferentiation, tumor aggressiveness, and therapy resistance in cancer have sustained interest in the development of JARID1 inhibitors. Here we review the diverse and context-specific functions of the JARID1 proteins that may impact the utilization of emerging targeted inhibitors of this histone demethylase family in cancer therapy.

Proteins with Site-Specific Lysine Methylation

As an important epigenetic mark, lysine methylations play critical roles in the regulation of both chromatin and non-chromatin proteins. There are three levels of lysine methylation, mono-, di-, and trimethylation. Each one has turned out to be biologically distinctive. For the biochemical characterization of proteins with lysine methylation, multiple chemical biology methods have been developed. This concept article will highlight these developments and their applications in epigenetic investigation of protein functions.

Choose and Use Your Chemical Probe Wisely to Explore Cancer Biology

Small-molecule chemical probes or tools have become progressively more important in recent years as valuable reagents to investigate fundamental biological mechanisms and processes causing disease, including cancer. Chemical probes have also achieved greater prominence alongside complementary biological reagents for target validation in drug discovery. However, there is evidence of widespread continuing misuse and promulgation of poor-quality and insufficiently selective chemical probes, perpetuating a worrisome and misleading pollution of the scientific literature. We discuss current challenges with the selection and use of chemical probes, and suggest how biologists can and should be more discriminating in the probes they employ.

Allosteric regulation of epigenetic modifying enzymes

Epigenetic enzymes including histone modifying enzymes are key regulators of gene expression in normal and disease processes. Many drug development strategies to target histone modifying enzymes have focused on ligands that bind to enzyme active sites, but allosteric pockets offer potentially attractive opportunities for therapeutic development. Recent biochemical studies have revealed roles for small molecule and peptide ligands binding outside of the active sites in modulating the catalytic activities of histone modifying enzymes. Here we highlight several examples of allosteric regulation of epigenetic enzymes and discuss the biological significance of these findings.

Histone demethylase KDM5A regulates the ZMYND8-NuRD chromatin remodeler to promote DNA repair

Upon DNA damage, histone modifications are reshaped to accommodate DNA damage signaling and repair. Gong et al. report that the histone demethylase KDM5A promotes loading of the chromatin remodeling complex ZMYND8–NuRD to double-strand DNA breaks through H3K4me3 demethylation, thereby allowing repair of the lesion.

Upon DNA damage, histone modifications are dynamically reshaped to accommodate DNA damage signaling and repair within chromatin. In this study, we report the identification of the histone demethylase KDM5A as a key regulator of the bromodomain protein ZMYND8 and NuRD (nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylation) complex in the DNA damage response. We observe KDM5A-dependent H3K4me3 demethylation within chromatin near DNA double-strand break (DSB) sites. Mechanistically, demethylation of H3K4me3 is required for ZMYND8–NuRD binding to chromatin and recruitment to DNA damage. Functionally, KDM5A deficiency results in impaired transcriptional silencing and repair of DSBs by homologous recombination. Thus, this study identifies a crucial function for KDM5A in demethylating H3K4 to allow ZMYND8–NuRD to operate within damaged chromatin to repair DSBs.

Structural basis of molecular recognition of helical histone H3 tail by PHD finger domains

The plant homeodomain (PHD) fingers are among the largest family of epigenetic domains, first characterized as readers of methylated H3K4. Readout of histone post-translational modifications by PHDs has been the subject of intense investigation; however, less is known about the recognition of secondary structure features within the histone tail itself. We solved the crystal structure of the PHD finger of the bromodomain adjacent to zinc finger 2A [BAZ2A, also known as TIP5 (TTF-I/interacting protein 5)] in complex with unmodified N-terminal histone H3 tail. The peptide is bound in a helical folded-back conformation after K4, induced by an acidic patch on the protein surface that prevents peptide binding in an extended conformation. Structural bioinformatics analyses identify a conserved Asp/Glu residue that we name ‘acidic wall’, found to be mutually exclusive with the conserved Trp for K4Me recognition. Neutralization or inversion of the charges at the acidic wall patch in BAZ2A, and homologous BAZ2B, weakened H3 binding. We identify simple mutations on H3 that strikingly enhance or reduce binding, as a result of their stabilization or destabilization of H3 helicity. Our work unravels the structural basis for binding of the helical H3 tail by PHD fingers and suggests that molecular recognition of secondary structure motifs within histone tails could represent an additional layer of regulation in epigenetic processes.

Assessing histone demethylase inhibitors in cells: lessons learned

BACKGROUND

Histone lysine demethylases (KDMs) are of interest as drug targets due to their regulatory roles in chromatin organization and their tight associations with diseases including cancer and mental disorders. The first KDM inhibitors for KDM1 have entered clinical trials, and efforts are ongoing to develop potent, selective and cell-active 'probe' molecules for this target class. Robust cellular assays to assess the specific engagement of KDM inhibitors in cells as well as their cellular selectivity are a prerequisite for the development of high-quality inhibitors. Here we describe the use of a high-content cellular immunofluorescence assay as a method for demonstrating target engagement in cells.

RESULTS

A panel of assays for the Jumonji C subfamily of KDMs was developed to encompass all major branches of the JmjC phylogenetic tree. These assays compare compound activity against wild-type KDM proteins to a catalytically inactive version of the KDM, in which residues involved in the active-site iron coordination are mutated to inactivate the enzyme activity. These mutants are critical for assessing the specific effect of KDM inhibitors and for revealing indirect effects on histone methylation status. The reported assays make use of ectopically expressed demethylases, and we demonstrate their use to profile several recently identified classes of KDM inhibitors and their structurally matched inactive controls. The generated data correlate well with assay results assessing endogenous KDM inhibition and confirm the selectivity observed in biochemical assays with isolated enzymes. We find that both cellular permeability and competition with 2-oxoglutarate affect the translation of biochemical activity to cellular inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

High-content-based immunofluorescence assays have been established for eight KDM members of the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenases covering all major branches of the JmjC-KDM phylogenetic tree. The usage of both full-length, wild-type and catalytically inactive mutant ectopically expressed protein, as well as structure-matched inactive control compounds, allowed for detection of nonspecific effects causing changes in histone methylation as a result of compound toxicity. The developed assays offer a histone lysine demethylase family-wide tool for assessing KDM inhibitors for cell activity and on-target efficacy. In addition, the presented data may inform further studies to assess the cell-based activity of histone lysine methylation inhibitors.

Novel targets in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors: RBP2

Retinoblastoma binding protein 2, also known as RBP2, JARID1A or KDM5A, is an H3K4 demethylase implicated in a variety of non-neuroendocrine, and more recently, neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). NETs are tumors that form from neuroendocrine cells in tissues of the GI tract, endocrine pancreas, lung, skin and other tissues. RBP2 is expressed at abnormally high levels in NETs and recent work demonstrates that modulation of RBP2 in vitro and in vivo impacts end points of tumorigenesis. Interestingly, the demethylase activity of RBP2 is not exclusively responsible for these changes, as RBP2's binding partners may mediate its activity in a tissue- or context-dependent manner. Here, we discuss the features of RBP2 and its role in cell cycle regulation, angiogenesis and drug resistance in cancer.

Tug of war: adding and removing histone lysine methylation in Arabidopsis

Histone lysine methylation plays a fundamental role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in multicellular eukaryotes, including plants. It shapes plant developmental and growth programs as well as responses to the environment. The methylation status of certain amino-acids, in particular of the histone 3 (H3) lysine tails, is dynamically controlled by opposite acting histone methyltransferase 'writers' and histone demethylase 'erasers'. The methylation status is interpreted by a third set of proteins, the histone modification 'readers', which specifically bind to a methylated amino-acid on the H3 tail. Histone methylation writers, readers, and erasers themselves are regulated by intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli; this forms a feedback loop that contributes to development and environmental adaptation in Arabidopsis and other plants. Recent studies have expanded our knowledge regarding the biological roles and dynamic regulation of histone methylation. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in understanding the regulation and roles of histone methylation in plants and animals.

A comparison of foamy and lentiviral vector genotoxicity in SCID-repopulating cells shows foamy vectors are less prone to clonal dominance

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy using retroviral vectors has immense potential, but vector-mediated genotoxicity limits use in the clinic. Lentiviral vectors are less genotoxic than gammaretroviral vectors and have become the vector of choice in clinical trials. Foamy retroviral vectors have a promising integration profile and are less prone to read-through transcription than gammaretroviral or lentiviral vectors. Here, we directly compared the safety and efficacy of foamy vectors to lentiviral vectors in human CD34(+) repopulating cells in immunodeficient mice. To increase their genotoxic potential, foamy and lentiviral vectors with identical transgene cassettes with a known genotoxic spleen focus forming virus promoter were used. Both vectors resulted in efficient marking in vivo and a total of 825 foamy and 460 lentiviral vector unique integration sites were recovered in repopulating cells 19 weeks after transplantation. Foamy vector proviruses were observed less often near RefSeq gene and proto-oncogene transcription start sites than lentiviral vectors. The foamy vector group were also more polyclonal with fewer dominant clones (two out of six mice) than the lentiviral vector group (eight out of eight mice), and only lentiviral vectors had integrants near known proto-oncogenes in dominant clones. Our data further support the relative safety of foamy vectors for HSC gene therapy.

Are there specific readers of oxidized 5-methylcytosine bases?

5-methylcytosine (5mC) was long thought to be the only enzymatically created modified DNA base in mammalian cells. The discovery of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-formylcytosine, and 5-carboxylcytosine as reaction products of the TET family 5mC oxidases has prompted extensive searches for proteins that specifically bind to these oxidized bases. However, only a few of such "reader" proteins have been identified and verified so far. In this review, we discuss potential biological functions of oxidized 5mC as well as the role the presumed reader proteins may play in interpreting the genomic signals of 5mC oxidation products.

Structural Basis for KDM5A Histone Lysine Demethylase Inhibition by Diverse Compounds

The KDM5/JARID1 family of Fe(II)- and α-ketoglutarate-dependent demethylases removes methyl groups from methylated lysine 4 of histone H3. Accumulating evidence supports a role for KDM5 family members as oncogenic drivers. We compare the in vitro inhibitory properties and binding affinity of ten diverse compounds with all four family members, and present the crystal structures of the KDM5A-linked Jumonji domain in complex with eight of these inhibitors in the presence of Mn(II). All eight inhibitors structurally examined occupy the binding site of α-ketoglutarate, but differ in their specific binding interactions, including the number of ligands involved in metal coordination. We also observed inhibitor-induced conformational changes in KDM5A, particularly those residues involved in the binding of α-ketoglutarate, the anticipated peptide substrate, and intramolecular interactions. We discuss how particular chemical moieties contribute to inhibitor potency and suggest strategies that might be utilized in the successful design of selective and potent epigenetic inhibitors.

Modulation of p300/CBP Acetylation of Nucleosomes by Bromodomain Ligand I-CBP112

The histone acetyltransferase (HAT) enzymes p300 and CBP are closely related paralogs that serve as transcriptional coactivators and have been found to be dysregulated in cancer and other diseases. p300/CBP is a multidomain protein and possesses a highly conserved bromodomain that has been shown to bind acetylated Lys residues in both proteins and various small molecules, including I-CBP112 and CBP30. Here we show that the ligand I-CBP112 can stimulate nucleosome acetylation up to 3-fold while CBP30 does not. Activation of p300/CBP by I-CBP112 is not observed with the isolated histone H3 substrate but requires a nucleosome substrate. I-CBP112 does not impact nucleosome acetylation by the isolated p300 HAT domain, and the effects of I-CBP112 on p300/CBP can be neutralized by CBP30, suggesting that I-CBP112 likely allosterically activates p300/CBP through bromodomain interactions. Using mass spectrometry and Western blots, we have found that I-CBP112 particularly stimulates acetylation of Lys18 of histone H3 (H3K18) in nucleosomes, an established in vivo site of p300/CBP. In addition, we show that I-CBP112 enhances H3K18 acetylation in acute leukemia and prostate cancer cells in a concentration range commensurate with its antiproliferative effects. Our findings extend the known pharmacology of bromodomain ligands in the regulation of p300/CBP and suggest a novel approach to modulating histone acetylation in cancer.

Structural analysis of human KDM5B guides histone demethylase inhibitor development

Members of the KDM5 (also known as JARID1) family are 2-oxoglutarate- and Fe(2+)-dependent oxygenases that act as histone H3K4 demethylases, thereby regulating cell proliferation and stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Here we report crystal structures of the catalytic core of the human KDM5B enzyme in complex with three inhibitor chemotypes. These scaffolds exploit several aspects of the KDM5 active site, and their selectivity profiles reflect their hybrid features with respect to the KDM4 and KDM6 families. Whereas GSK-J1, a previously identified KDM6 inhibitor, showed about sevenfold less inhibitory activity toward KDM5B than toward KDM6 proteins, KDM5-C49 displayed 25-100-fold selectivity between KDM5B and KDM6B. The cell-permeable derivative KDM5-C70 had an antiproliferative effect in myeloma cells, leading to genome-wide elevation of H3K4me3 levels. The selective inhibitor GSK467 exploited unique binding modes, but it lacked cellular potency in the myeloma system. Taken together, these structural leads deliver multiple starting points for further rational and selective inhibitor design.

Reading the Combinatorial Histone Language

Histones are subject to frequent combinatorial post-translational modifications (PTMs), forming a complex chemical "language" that is interpreted by PTM-specific histone-interacting protein modules (reader domains). These specific interactions are thought to instruct gene expression and downstream biological functions. While the majority of studies have focused on individual modifications, our current understanding of the combinatorial PTM patterns on histones is starting to emerge, benefiting from the convergence of multiple technologies. Here, we review the key technical advances and progress on discovery and characterization of combinatorial histone PTM patterns. We focus on the interactions between reader domains and combinatorial PTMs, which is essential for understanding the mechanism and biological meaning of establishing and interpreting information embedded in histone PTM patterns.

Purification, Biochemical Analysis, and Structure Determination of JmjC Lysine Demethylases

Jumonji C (JmjC) lysine demethylases (KDMs) catalyze the site- and state-specific demethylation of lysine residues in histone and nonhistone protein substrates. These enzymes have been implicated in diverse genomic processes, including epigenetic gene regulation, DNA damage response, DNA replication, and regulation of heterochromatin structure. In addition, a number of JmjC KDMs contribute to the incidence of numerous cancers, rendering them targets for the development of novel chemotherapeutic drugs. Using the JMJD2 KDM subfamily as representative examples, this chapter outlines strategies for purifying highly active, recombinant JmjC KDMs lacking inhibitory transition metal ions, characterizing kinetic parameters of these enzymes using a coupled fluorescent assay, and determining crystal structures of the enzymes in complex with methylated histone peptides. Together, these approaches provide a foundation for structural and biochemical characterization of the JmjC KDMs and facilitate efforts to identify small molecule inhibitors through high-throughput screening and structure-guided design.

Characterization of a Linked Jumonji Domain of the KDM5/JARID1 Family of Histone H3 Lysine 4 Demethylases

The KDM5/JARID1 family of Fe(II)- and α-ketoglutarate-dependent demethylases remove methyl groups from tri- and dimethylated lysine 4 of histone H3. Accumulating evidence from primary tumors and model systems supports a role for KDM5A (JARID1A/RBP2) and KDM5B (JARID1B/PLU1) as oncogenic drivers. The KDM5 family is unique among the Jumonji domain-containing histone demethylases in that there is an atypical insertion of a DNA-binding ARID domain and a histone-binding PHD domain into the Jumonji domain, which separates the catalytic domain into two fragments (JmjN and JmjC). Here we demonstrate that internal deletion of the ARID and PHD1 domains has a negligible effect on in vitro enzymatic kinetics of the KDM5 family of enzymes. We present a crystal structure of the linked JmjN-JmjC domain from KDM5A, which reveals that the linked domain fully reconstitutes the cofactor (metal ion and α-ketoglutarate) binding characteristics of other structurally characterized Jumonji domain demethylases. Docking studies with GSK-J1, a selective inhibitor of the KDM6/KDM5 subfamilies, identify critical residues for binding of the inhibitor to the reconstituted KDM5 Jumonji domain. Further, we found that GSK-J1 inhibited the demethylase activity of KDM5C with 8.5-fold increased potency compared with that of KDM5B at 1 mm α-ketoglutarate. In contrast, JIB-04 (a pan-inhibitor of the Jumonji demethylase superfamily) had the opposite effect and was ~8-fold more potent against KDM5B than against KDM5C. Interestingly, the relative selectivity of JIB-04 toward KDM5B over KDM5C in vitro translates to a ~10-50-fold greater growth-inhibitory activity against breast cancer cell lines. These data define the minimal requirements for enzymatic activity of the KDM5 family to be the linked JmjN-JmjC domain coupled with the immediate C-terminal helical zinc-binding domain and provide structural characterization of the linked JmjN-JmjC domain for the KDM5 family, which should prove useful in the design of KDM5 demethylase inhibitors with improved potency and selectivity.

A two-state activation mechanism controls the histone methyltransferase Suv39h1

Specialized chromatin domains contribute to nuclear organization and regulation of gene expression. Gene-poor regions are di- and trimethylated at lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9me2/3) by the histone methyltransferase, Suv39h1. This enzyme harnesses a positive feedback loop to spread H3K9me2/3 over extended heterochromatic regions. However, little is known about how feedback loops operate on complex biopolymers such as chromatin, in part because of the difficulty in obtaining suitable substrates. Here we describe the synthesis of multi-domain ‘designer chromatin’ templates and their application to dissecting the regulation of human Suv39h1. We uncovered a two-step activation switch where H3K9me3 recognition and subsequent anchoring of the enzyme to chromatin allosterically promotes methylation activity, and confirmed that this mechanism contributes to chromatin recognition in cells. We propose that this mechanism serves as a paradigm in chromatin biochemistry since it enables highly dynamic sampling of chromatin state combined with targeted modification of desired genomic regions.

Opposing Chromatin Signals Direct and Regulate the Activity of Lysine Demethylase 4C (KDM4C)

Histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) and histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) are epigenetic marks with opposing roles in transcription regulation. Whereas colocalization of these modifications is generally excluded in the genome, how this preclusion is established remains poorly understood. Lysine demethylase 4C (KDM4C), an H3K9me3 demethylase, localizes predominantly to H3K4me3-containing promoters through its hybrid tandem tudor domain (TTD) (1, 2), providing a model for how these modifications might be excluded. We quantitatively investigated the contribution of the TTD to the catalysis of H3K9me3 demethylation by KDM4C and demonstrated that TTD-mediated recognition of H3K4me3 stimulates demethylation of H3K9me3 in cis on peptide and mononucleosome substrates. Our findings support a multivalent interaction mechanism, by which an activating mark, H3K4me3, recruits and stimulates KDM4C to remove the repressive H3K9me3 mark, thus facilitating exclusion. In addition, our work suggests that differential TTD binding properties across the KDM4 demethylase family may differentiate their targets in the genome.

Tet3 Reads 5-Carboxylcytosine through Its CXXC Domain and Is a Potential Guardian against Neurodegeneration

We report that the mammalian 5-methylcytosine (5mC) oxidase Tet3 exists as three major isoforms and characterized the full-length isoform containing an N-terminal CXXC domain (Tet3FL). This CXXC domain binds to unmethylated CpGs, but, unexpectedly, its highest affinity is toward 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). We determined the crystal structure of the CXXC domain-5caC-DNA complex, revealing the structural basis of the binding specificity of this domain as a reader of CcaCG sequences. Mapping of Tet3FL in neuronal cells shows that Tet3FL is localized precisely at the transcription start sites (TSSs) of genes involved in lysosome function, mRNA processing, and key genes of the base excision repair pathway. Therefore, Tet3FL may function as a regulator of 5caC removal by base excision repair. Active removal of accumulating 5mC from the TSSs of genes coding for lysosomal proteins by Tet3FL in postmitotic neurons of the brain may be important for preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

The Histone Demethylase KDM5 Activates Gene Expression by Recognizing Chromatin Context through Its PHD Reader Motif

KDM5 family proteins are critically important transcriptional regulators whose physiological functions in the context of a whole animal remain largely unknown. Using genome-wide gene expression and binding analyses in Drosophila adults, we demonstrate that KDM5 (Lid) is a direct regulator of genes required for mitochondrial structure and function. Significantly, this occurs independently of KDM5's well-described JmjC domain-encoded histone demethylase activity. Instead, it requires the PHD motif of KDM5 that binds to histone H3 that is di- or trimethylated on lysine 4 (H3K4me2/3). Genome-wide, KDM5 binding overlaps with the active chromatin mark H3K4me3, and a fly strain specifically lacking H3K4me2/3 binding shows defective KDM5 promoter recruitment and gene activation. KDM5 therefore plays a central role in regulating mitochondrial function by utilizing its ability to recognize specific chromatin contexts. Importantly, KDM5-mediated regulation of mitochondrial activity is likely to be key in human diseases caused by dysfunction of this family of proteins.

Histone demethylases in chromatin biology and beyond

Histone methylation plays fundamental roles in regulating chromatin‐based processes. With the discovery of histone demethylases over a decade ago, it is now clear that histone methylation is dynamically regulated to shape the epigenome and regulate important nuclear processes including transcription, cell cycle control and DNA repair. In addition, recent observations suggest that these enzymes could also have functions beyond their originally proposed role as histone demethylases. In this review, we focus on recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underpin the role of histone demethylases in a wide variety of normal cellular processes.

Functional coupling between writers, erasers and readers of histone and DNA methylation

DNA and histone lysine methylation are dynamic chemical modifications that play a crucial role in the establishment of gene expression patterns during development. Both types of genomic methylation patterns are enzymatically regulated by the opposing activities of enzymes that introduce and remove these marks, known as methylation 'writers' and 'erasers', respectively. The appropriate localization and activity of these enzymes on chromatin is, in part, regulated by chromatin 'readers', protein modules that recognize histone and DNA modifications. Such reading modules are either encoded within the same polypeptide as the catalytic domains of writers and erasers, or present in protein partners that associate with them. Here, we review recent structural, biochemical and biological studies that demonstrate that there are multiple mechanisms by which reader domains can regulate the writers and erasers of histone and DNA methylation.