A transcriptional switch mediated by cofactor methylation

Androgen receptor (AR) coregulators: an overview

The biological action of androgens is mediated through the androgen receptor (AR). Androgen-bound AR functions as a transcription factor to regulate genes involved in an array of physiological processes, most notably male sexual differentiation and maturation, and the maintenance of spermatogenesis. The transcriptional activity of AR is affected by coregulators that influence a number of functional properties of AR, including ligand selectivity and DNA binding capacity. As the promoter of target genes, coregulators participate in DNA modification, either directly through modification of histones or indirectly by the recruitment of chromatin-modifying complexes, as well as functioning in the recruitment of the basal transcriptional machinery. Aberrant coregulator activity due to mutation or altered expression levels may be a contributing factor in the progression of diseases related to AR activity, such as prostate cancer. AR demonstrates distinct differences in its interaction with coregulators from other steroid receptors due to differences in the functional interaction between AR domains, possibly resulting in alterations in the dynamic interactions between coregulator complexes.

Histone methylation in transcriptional control

Over the past year or so, methylation of histones has come to be recognised as a major player in the regulation of gene activity. This notion follows the discovery of lysine and arginine methyltransferases and proteins that recognise the methyl-lysine 'mark' on histones. Methylated histones have been implicated in heterochromatic repression, promoter regulation and the propagation of a repressed state via DNA methylation.

A unified theory of gene expression

The human genome has been called "the blueprint for life." This master plan is realized through the process of gene expression. Recent progress has revealed that many of the steps in the pathway from gene sequence to active protein are connected, suggesting a unified theory of gene expression.

Combinatorial control of gene expression by nuclear receptors and coregulators

The nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily of transcription factors regulates gene expression in response to endocrine signaling, and recruitment of coregulators affords these receptors considerable functional flexibility. We will place historical aspects of NR research in context with current opinions on their mechanism of signal transduction, and we will speculate upon future trends in the field.

Set9, a novel histone H3 methyltransferase that facilitates transcription by precluding histone tail modifications required for heterochromatin formation

A novel histone methyltransferase, termed Set9, was isolated from human cells. Set9 contains a SET domain, but lacks the pre- and post-SET domains. Set9 methylates specifically lysine 4 (K4) of histone H3 (H3-K4) and potentiates transcription activation. The histone H3 tail interacts specifically with the histone deacetylase NuRD complex. Methylation of histone H3-K4 by Set9 precludes the association of NuRD with the H3 tail. Moreover, methylation of H3-K4 impairs Suv39h1-mediated methylation at K9 of H3 (H3-K9). The interplay between the Set9 and Suv39h1 histone methyltransferases is specific, as the methylation of H3-K9 by the histone methyltransferase G9a was not affected by Set9 methylation of H3-K4. Our studies suggest that Set9-mediated methylation of H3-K4 functions in transcription activation by competing with histone deacetylases and by precluding H3-K9 methylation by Suv39h1. Our results suggest that the methylation of histone tails can have distinct effects on transcription, depending on its chromosomal location, the combination of posttranslational modifications, and the enzyme (or protein complex) involved in the particular modification.

NEJ1 controls non-homologous end joining in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Broken DNA ends are rejoined by non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathways requiring the Ku proteins (Ku70, Ku80), DNA ligase IV and its associated protein Lif1/Xrcc4 (ref. 1). In mammalian meiotic cells, Ku protein levels are much lower than in somatic cells, apparently reducing the capacity of meiotic cells to carry out NHEJ and thereby promoting homologous recombination. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, NHEJ is also downregulated in meiosis-competent MATa/MAT alpha diploid cells in comparison with diploids or haploids expressing only MATa or MAT alpha. Diploids expressing both MATa and MAT alpha show enhanced mitotic homologous recombination. Here we report that mating-type-dependent regulation of NHEJ in budding yeast is caused in part by transcriptional repression of both LIF1 and the gene NEJ1 (YLR265C)--identified from microarray screening of messenger RNAs. Deleting NEJ1 reduces NHEJ 100-fold in MATa or MAT alpha haploids. Constitutive expression of NEJ1, but not expression of LIF1, restores NHEJ in MATa/MAT alpha cells. Nej1 regulates the subcellular distribution of Lif1. A green fluorescent protein (GFP)-Lif1 fusion protein accumulates in the nucleus in cells expressing NEJ1 but is largely cytoplasmic when NEJ1 is repressed.