The viral control of cellular acetylation signaling

Stress granule: A promising target for cancer treatment

Stress granules (SGs) are primarily composed of mRNAs that stall at translation initiation and usually appear in the cytoplasm under unusual physiological or pathological conditions such as hypoxia, oxidative stress, and viral infection. Recent studies have indicated that several components of SGs participate in tumourigenesis and cancer metastasis through tumour-associated signalling pathways as well as other mechanisms. Furthermore, some chemotherapy drugs have been reported to induce SGs. Thus, the roles of SGs in cancer treatment have attracted considerable interest. Importantly, disturbing the recruitment of SGs components or microtubule polymerization, as well as other strategies that can abolish SGs formation, is reported to inhibit tumour progression, suggesting that targeting SGs could be a promising strategy for cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the relationship between SGs and cancer, as well as recent advances in targeting SGs, in the interest of providing new opportunities for cancer treatment.

Sirtuin 2 Isoform 1 Enhances Hepatitis B Virus RNA Transcription and DNA Synthesis through the AKT/GSK-3β/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Sirtuin 2 (Sirt2), a NAD⁺-dependent protein deacetylase, is overexpressed in many hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and can deacetylate many proteins, including tubulins and AKT, prior to AKT activation. Here, we found that endogenous Sirt2 was upregulated in wild-type hepatitis B virus (HBV WT)-replicating cells, leading to tubulin deacetylation; however, this was not the case in HBV replication-deficient-mutant-transfected cells and 1.3-mer HBV WT-transfected and reverse transcriptase inhibitor (entecavir or lamivudine)-treated cells, but all HBV proteins were expressed. In HBV WT-replicating cells, upregulation of Sirt2 induced AKT activation, which consequently downregulated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) and increased β-catenin levels; however, downregulation of Sirt2 in HBV-nonreplicating cells impaired AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling. Overexpression of Sirt2 isoform 1 stimulated HBV transcription and consequently HBV DNA synthesis, which in turn activated AKT and consequently increased β-catenin levels, possibly through physical interactions with Sirt2 and AKT. Knockdown of Sirt2 by short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), inhibition by 2-cyano-3-[5-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-furanyl]-N-5-quinolinyl-2-propenamide (AGK2), or dominant negative mutant expression inhibited HBV replication, reduced AKT activation, and decreased β-catenin levels. Through HBV infection, we demonstrated that Sirt2 knockdown inhibited HBV replication from transcription. Although HBx itself activates AKT and upregulates β-catenin, Sirt2-mediated signaling and upregulated HBV replication were HBx independent. Since constitutively active AKT inhibits HBV replication, the results suggest that upregulated Sirt2 and activated AKT may balance HBV replication to prolong viral replication, eventually leading to the development of HCC. Also, the results indicate that Sirt2 inhibition may be a new therapeutic option for controlling HBV infection and preventing HCC.IMPORTANCE Even though Sirt2, a NAD⁺-dependent protein deacetylase, is overexpressed in many HCCs, and overexpressed Sirt2 promotes hepatic fibrosis and associates positively with vascular invasion by primary HCCs through AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling, the relationship between Sirt2, HBV, HBx, and/or HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis is unclear. Here, we show that HBV DNA replication, not HBV expression, correlates positively with Sirt2 upregulation and AKT activation. We demonstrate that overexpression of Sirt2 further increases HBV replication, increases AKT activation, downregulates GSK-3β, and increases β-catenin levels. Conversely, inhibiting Sirt2 decreases HBV replication, reduces AKT activation, and decreases β-catenin levels. Although HBx activates AKT to upregulate β-catenin, Sirt2-mediated effects were not dependent on HBx. The results also indicate that a Sirt2 inhibitor may control HBV infection and prevent the development of hepatic fibrosis and HCC.

13 C-metabolic flux analysis of human adenovirus infection: Implications for viral vector production

Adenoviruses are human pathogens increasingly used as gene therapy and vaccination vectors. However, their impact on cell metabolism is poorly characterized. We performed carbon labeling experiments with [1,2-¹³ C]glucose or [U-¹³ C]glutamine to evaluate metabolic alterations in the amniocyte-derived, E1-transformed 1G3 cell line during production of a human adenovirus type 5 vector (AdV5). Nonstationary ¹³ C-metabolic flux analysis revealed increased fluxes of glycolysis (17%) and markedly PPP (over fourfold) and cytosolic AcCoA formation (nearly twofold) following infection of growing cells. Interestingly, infection of growth-arrested cells increased overall carbon flow even more, including glutamine anaplerosis and TCA cycle activity (both over 1.5-fold), but was unable to stimulate the PPP and was associated with a steep drop in AdV5 replication (almost 80%). Our results underscore the importance of nucleic and fatty acid biosynthesis for adenovirus replication. Overall, we portray a metabolic blueprint of human adenovirus infection, highlighting similarities with other viruses and cancer, and suggest strategies to improve AdV5 production. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 195-207. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Manipulation of the host protein acetylation network by human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Over the past 15 years, protein acetylation has emerged as a globally important post-translational modification that fine-tunes major cellular processes in many life forms. This dynamic regulatory system is critical both for complex eukaryotic cells and for the viruses that infect them. HIV-1 accesses the host acetylation network by interacting with several key enzymes, thereby promoting infection at multiple steps during the viral life cycle. Inhibitors of host histone deacetylases and bromodomain-containing proteins are now being pursued as therapeutic strategies to enhance current antiretroviral treatment. As more acetylation-targeting compounds are reaching clinical trials, it is time to review the role of reversible protein acetylation in HIV-infected CD4(+) T cells.

Association between human cytomegalovirus infection and histone acetylation level in various histological types of glioma

At present, glioma is the most common intracranial tumor and accounts for 40–60% of intracranial tumors. Glioma is highly anaplastic and demonstrates invasive growth. Although considerable progression has been achieved in the treatment of malignant glioma, the prognosis of this disease remains poor. Over the previous decade, several studies have confirmed that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) enhances the growth or survival of tumors. This is likely to occur through mechanisms distinct from those of classic tumor viruses, which express transforming viral oncoproteins in the majority of tumor cells. The immediate-early 2 protein (IE86; 86 kDa) of HCMV is a key regulator for viral replication and host cell proliferation. The present study aimed to identify the association between the acetylation level and HCMV IE86 expression in various histological types of glioma. Tissue samples were obtained from 60 patients with glioma, consisting of 25 patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), 16 patients with anaplastic glioma and 19 patients with low-grade glioma, in addition to 9 tissue samples obtained from the normal cortex, which were used as the control. The in situ protein expression of IE86, which is encoded by the IE2 gene, activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5), P300, acetyl-histone H3K9 and acetyl-histone H3K14 was detected by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of ATF5, IE2 and P300 were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction in GBM, anaplastic glioma, low-grade glioma and normal cortex tissue specimens. The protein levels of ATF5, IE86, P300, acetyl-histone H3K9 and acetyl-histone H3K14 were assessed by western blot analysis in high-grade glioma, low-grade glioma and normal cortex tissues. Analysis of the expression of the proteins revealed that the excessive expression of the HCMV IE86 protein is associated with the malignancy degree and acetylation level in glioma. IE86 expression is also associated with ATF5, which is an anti-apoptotic protein that is highly expressed in malignant glioma, but not in normal brain tissues. The expression level of IE86 may demonstrate considerable importance for the evaluation of the malignancy degree of human gliomas and extensive application in diagnostic and therapeutic medicine.

Synergistic combination of valproic acid and oncolytic parvovirus H-1PV as a potential therapy against cervical and pancreatic carcinomas

The rat parvovirus H-1PV has oncolytic and tumour-suppressive properties potentially exploitable in cancer therapy. This possibility is being explored and results are encouraging, but it is necessary to improve the oncotoxicity of the virus. Here we show that this can be achieved by co-treating cancer cells with H-1PV and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) such as valproic acid (VPA). We demonstrate that these agents act synergistically to kill a range of human cervical carcinoma and pancreatic carcinoma cell lines by inducing oxidative stress, DNA damage and apoptosis. Strikingly, in rat and mouse xenograft models, H-1PV/VPA co-treatment strongly inhibits tumour growth promoting complete tumour remission in all co-treated animals. At the molecular level, we found acetylation of the parvovirus nonstructural protein NS1 at residues K85 and K257 to modulate NS1-mediated transcription and cytotoxicity, both of which are enhanced by VPA treatment. These results warrant clinical evaluation of H-1PV/VPA co-treatment against cervical and pancreatic ductal carcinomas.

Histones: Controlling Tumor Signaling Circuitry

Epigenetic modifications constitute the next frontier in tumor biology research. Post-translation modification of histones dynamically influences gene expression independent of alterations to the DNA sequence. These mechanisms are often mediated by histone linkers or by proteins associated with the recruitment of DNA-binding proteins, HDAC I and II interacting proteins and transcriptional activators, coactivators or corepressors. Early evidence suggested that histones and their modifiers are involved in sophisticated processes that modulate tumor behavior and cellular phenotype. In this review, we discuss how recent discoveries about chromatin modifications, particularly histone acetylation, are shaping our knowledge of cell biology and our understanding of the molecular circuitry governing tumor progression and consider whether recent insights may extend to novel therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, we discuss the latest oncogenomic findings in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) from studies using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology and highlight the impact of mutations identified in histones and their modifiers.

FOXM1 (Forkhead box M1) in tumorigenesis: overexpression in human cancer, implication in tumorigenesis, oncogenic functions, tumor-suppressive properties, and target of anticancer therapy

FOXM1 (Forkhead box M1) is a typical proliferation-associated transcription factor and is also intimately involved in tumorigenesis. FOXM1 stimulates cell proliferation and cell cycle progression by promoting the entry into S-phase and M-phase. Additionally, FOXM1 is required for proper execution of mitosis. In accordance with its role in stimulation of cell proliferation, FOXM1 exhibits a proliferation-specific expression pattern and its expression is regulated by proliferation and anti-proliferation signals as well as by proto-oncoproteins and tumor suppressors. Since these factors are often mutated, overexpressed, or lost in human cancer, the normal control of the foxm1 expression by them provides the basis for deregulated FOXM1 expression in tumors. Accordingly, FOXM1 is overexpressed in many types of human cancer. FOXM1 is intimately involved in tumorigenesis, because it contributes to oncogenic transformation and participates in tumor initiation, growth, and progression, including positive effects on angiogenesis, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages, tumor-associated lung inflammation, self-renewal capacity of cancer cells, prevention of premature cellular senescence, and chemotherapeutic drug resistance. However, in the context of urethane-induced lung tumorigenesis, FOXM1 has an unexpected tumor suppressor role in endothelial cells because it limits pulmonary inflammation and canonical Wnt signaling in epithelial lung cells, thereby restricting carcinogenesis. Accordingly, FOXM1 plays a role in homologous recombination repair of DNA double-strand breaks and maintenance of genomic stability, that is, prevention of polyploidy and aneuploidy. The implication of FOXM1 in tumorigenesis makes it an attractive target for anticancer therapy, and several antitumor drugs have been reported to decrease FOXM1 expression.

Selection of a highly invasive neuroblastoma cell population through long-term human cytomegalovirus infection

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is suspected to increase tumour malignancy by infection of cancer and/or stroma cells (oncomodulation). So far, oncomodulatory mechanisms have been attributed to the presence of HCMV and direct action of its gene products on cancer cells. Here, we investigated whether the prolonged presence of HCMV can result in the irreversible selection of a cancer cell population with increased malignancy. The neuroblastoma cell line UKF-NB-4 was long-term (200 passages) infected with the HCMV strain Hi91 (UKF-NB-4^Hi) before virus eradication using ganciclovir (UKF-NB-4^HiGCV). Global gene expression profiling of UKF-NB-4, UKF-NB-4^Hi and UKF-NB-4^HiGCV cells and subsequent bioinformatic signal transduction pathway analysis revealed clear differences between UKF-NB-4 and UKF-NB-4^Hi, as well as between UKF-NB-4 and UKF-NB-4^HiGCV cells, but only minor differences between UKF-NB-4^Hi and UKF-NB-4^HiGCV cells. Investigation of the expression of a subset of five genes in different chronically HCMV-infected cell lines before and after virus eradication suggested that long-term HCMV infection reproducibly causes specific changes. Array comparative genomic hybridisation showed virtually the same genomic differences for the comparisons UKF-NB-4^Hi/UKF-NB-4 and UKF-NB-4^HiGCV/UKF-NB-4. UKF-NB-4^Hi cells are characterised by an increased invasive potential compared with UKF-NB-4 cells. This phenotype was completely retained in UKF-NB-4^HiGCV cells. Moreover, there was a substantial overlap in the signal transduction pathways that differed significantly between UKF-NB-4^Hi/UKF-NB-4^HiGCV and UKF-NB-4 cells and those differentially regulated between tumour tissues from neuroblastoma patients with favourable or poor outcome. In conclusion, we present the first experimental evidence that long-term HCMV infection can result in the selection of tumour cell populations with enhanced malignancy.

Epigenetic displacement of HP1 from heterochromatin by HIV-1 Vpr causes premature sister chromatid separation

Although pericentromeric heterochromatin is essential for chromosome segregation, its role in humans remains controversial. Dissecting the function of HIV-1-encoded Vpr, we unraveled important properties of heterochromatin during chromosome segregation. In Vpr-expressing cells, hRad21, hSgo1, and hMis12, which are crucial for proper chromosome segregation, were displaced from the centromeres of mitotic chromosomes, resulting in premature chromatid separation (PCS). Interestingly, Vpr displaced heterochromatin protein 1-α (HP1-α) and HP1-γ from chromatin. RNA interference (RNAi) experiments revealed that down-regulation of HP1-α and/or HP1-γ induced PCS, concomitant with the displacement of hRad21. Notably, Vpr stimulated the acetylation of histone H3, whereas p300 RNAi attenuated the Vpr-induced displacement of HP1-α and PCS. Furthermore, Vpr bound to p300 that was present in insoluble regions of the nucleus, suggesting that Vpr aberrantly recruits the histone acetyltransferase activity of p300 to chromatin, displaces HP1-α, and causes chromatid cohesion defects. Our study reveals for the first time centromere cohesion impairment resulting from epigenetic disruption of higher-order structures of heterochromatin by a viral pathogen.

Lysine acetylation sites in bovine foamy virus transactivator BTas are important for its DNA binding activity

Cellular acetylation signaling is important for viral gene regulation, particularly during the transactivation of retroviruses. The regulatory protein of bovine foamy virus (BFV), BTas, is a transactivator that augments viral gene transcription from both the long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter and the internal promoter (IP). In this study, we report that the histone acetyltransferase (HAT), p300, specifically acetylates BTas both in vivo and in vitro. Further studies demonstrated that BTas acetylation markedly enhances its transactivation activity. Mutagenesis analysis identified three lysines at positions 66, 109 and 110 in BTas that are acetylated by p300. The K110R mutant lost its binding to BFV promoter as well as its ability to activate BFV promoter. The acetylation of K66 and K109 may contribute to increased BTas binding ability. These results suggest that the p300-acetylated lysines of BTas are important for transactivation of BFV promoters and therefore have an important role in BFV replication.

Novel histone H3 binding protein ORF158L from the Singapore grouper iridovirus

Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV), a major pathogen of concern for grouper aquaculture, has a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome with 162 predicted open reading frames, for which a total of 62 SGIV proteins have been identified. One of these, ORF158L, bears no sequence homology to any other known protein. Knockdown of orf158L using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides resulted in a significant decrease in virus yield in grouper embryonic cells. ORF158L was observed in nuclei and virus assembly centers of virus-infected cells. This observation led us to study the structure and function of ORF158L. The crystal structure determined at 2.2-Å resolution reveals that ORF158L partially exhibits a structural resemblance to the histone binding region of antisilencing factor 1 (Asf1), a histone H3/H4 chaperon, despite the fact that there is no significant sequence identity between the two proteins. Interactions of ORF158L with the histone H3/H4 complex and H3 were demonstrated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments. Subsequently, the results of ITC studies on structure-based mutants of ORF158L suggested Arg67 and Ala93 were key residues for histone H3 interactions. Moreover, a combination of approaches of ORF158L knockdown and isobaric tags/mass spectrometry for relative and absolute quantifications (iTRAQ) revealed that ORF158L may be involved in both the regulation and the expression of histone H3 and H3 methylation. Our present studies suggest that ORF158L may function as a histone H3 chaperon, enabling it to control host cellular gene expression and to facilitate viral replication.

Transcription of subgenomic mRNA of hepatitis delta virus requires a modified hepatitis delta antigen that is distinct from antigenomic RNA synthesis

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) contains a viroid-like, 1.7-kb circular RNA genome, which replicates via a double-rolling-circle model. However, the exact mechanism involved in HDV genome RNA replication and subgenomic mRNA transcription is still unclear. Our previous studies have shown that the replications of genomic and antigenomic HDV RNA strands have different sensitivities to alpha-amanitin and are associated with different nuclear bodies, suggesting that these two strands are synthesized in different transcription machineries in the cells. In this study, we developed a unique quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) procedure for detection of various HDV RNA species from an RNA transfection system. Using this qRT-PCR procedure and a series of HDV mutants, we demonstrated that Arg-13 methylation, Lys-72 acetylation, and Ser-177 phosphorylation of small hepatitis delta antigen (S-HDAg) are important for HDV mRNA transcription. In addition, these three S-HDAg modifications are dispensable for antigenomic RNA synthesis but are required for genomic RNA synthesis. Furthermore, the three RNA species had different sensitivities to acetylation and deacetylation inhibitors, showing that the metabolic requirements for the synthesis of HDV antigenomic RNA are different from those for the synthesis of genomic RNA and mRNA. In sum, our data support the hypothesis that the cellular machinery involved in the synthesis of HDV antigenomic RNA is different from that of genomic RNA synthesis and mRNA transcription, even though the antigenomic RNA and the mRNA are made from the same RNA template. We propose that acetylation and deacetylation of HDAg may provide a molecular switch for the synthesis of the different HDV RNA species.

Hepatitis B virus X protein induces the expression of MTA1 and HDAC1, which enhances hypoxia signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Expression level of metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) is closely related to tumor growth and metastasis in various cancers. Although increased expression level of MTA1 was observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), role of MTA1 complex containing histone deacetylase (HDAC) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocarcinogenesis has not been studied. Here, we demonstrated that HBx strongly induced the expression of MTA1 and HDAC1 genes at transcription level. MTA1 and HDAC1/2 physically associated with hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) in vivo in the presence of HBx, which was abolished by knockdown of MTA1 by short interfering RNA (siRNA). HBx induced deacetylation of the oxygen-dependent degradation domain of HIF-1 alpha, which was accompanied with dissociation of prolyl hydroxylases and von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor from HIF-1 alpha. These results indicate that HBx-induced deacetylation is important for proteasomal degradation of HIF-1 alpha. Further, we observed that protein levels of MTA1 and HDAC1 were increased in the liver of HBx-transgenic mice. Also, there was a higher expression of HDAC1 in HCC than in the adjacent non-tumorous cirrhotic nodules in 10 out of 12 human HBV-associated HCC specimens. Together, our data indicate a positive cross talk between HBx and the MTA1/HDAC complex in stabilizing HIF-1 alpha, which may play a critical role in angiogenesis and metastasis of HBV-associated HCC.

Transcription factor YY1 and its associated acetyltransferases CBP and p300 interact with hepatitis delta antigens and modulate hepatitis delta virus RNA replication

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a pathogenic RNA virus with a plant viroid-like genome structure. HDV encodes two isoforms of delta antigen (HDAg), the small and large forms of HDAg (SHDAg and LHDAg), which are essential for HDV RNA replication and virion assembly, respectively. Replication of HDV RNA depends on host cellular transcription machinery, and the exact molecular mechanism for HDV RNA replication is still unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that both isoforms of HDAg interact with transcription factor YY1 (Yin Yang 1) in vivo and in vitro. Their interaction domains were identified as the middle region encompassing the RNA binding domain of HDAg and the middle GA/GK-rich region and the C-terminal zinc-finger region of YY1. Results of sucrose gradient centrifugation analysis indicated the cosedimentation of the majority of SHDAg and a portion of the LHDAg with YY1 and its associated acetyltransferases CBP (CREB-binding protein) and p300 as a large nuclear complex in vivo. Furthermore, exogenous expression of YY1 or CBP/p300 in HDV RNA replication system showed an enhancement of HDV RNA replication. Interestingly, the acetyltransferase activity of p300 is important for this enhancement. Moreover, SHDAg could be acetylated in vivo, and treatment with cellular deacetylase inhibitor elevated the replication of HDV RNA and acetylation of SHDAg. All together, our results reveal that HDAg interacts with cellular transcription factor YY1 and its associated acetyltransferases CBP and p300 in a large nuclear complex, which in turn modulates the replication of HDV RNA.

The deacetylase HDAC6 is a novel critical component of stress granules involved in the stress response

An essential part of the cellular response to environmental stress is a reversible translational suppression, taking place in dynamic cytoplasmic structures called stress granules (SGs). We discovered that HDAC6, a cytoplasmic deacetylase that acts on tubulin and HSP90 and also binds ubiquitinated proteins with high affinity, is a novel critical SG component. We found that HDAC6 interacts with another SG protein, G3BP (Ras-GTPase-activating protein SH3 domain-binding protein 1), and localizes to SGs under all stress conditions tested. We show that pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of HDAC6 abolishes SG formation. Intriguingly, we found that the ubiquitin-binding domain of HDAC6 is essential and that SGs are strongly positive for ubiquitin. Moreover, disruption of microtubule arrays or impairment of motor proteins also prevents formation of SGs. These findings identify HDAC6 as a central component of the stress response, and suggest that it coordinates the formation of SGs by mediating the motor-protein-driven movement of individual SG components along microtubules.

Proteomic studies reveal coordinated changes in T-cell expression patterns upon infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

We performed an extensive two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis proteomic analysis of the cellular changes in human T cells upon human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. We detected 2,000 protein spots, 15% of which were differentially expressed at peak infection. A total of 93 proteins that changed in relative abundance were identified. Of these, 27 were found to be significantly downregulated and 66 were upregulated at peak HIV infection. Early in infection, only a small group of proteins was changed. A clear and consistent program of metabolic rerouting could be seen, in which glycolysis was downregulated and mitochondrial oxidation enhanced. Proteins that participate in apoptotic signaling were also significantly influenced. Apart from these changes, the virus also strongly influenced levels of proteins involved in intracellular transport. These and other results are discussed in light of previous microarray and proteomic studies regarding the impact of HIV-1 infection on cellular mRNA and protein content.

HDAC6, at the crossroads between cytoskeleton and cell signaling by acetylation and ubiquitination

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is a unique enzyme with specific structural and functional features. It is actively or stably maintained in the cytoplasm and is the only member, within the histone deacetylase family, that harbors a full duplication of its deacetylase homology region followed by a specific ubiquitin-binding domain at the C-terminus end. Accordingly, this deacetylase functions at the heart of a cellular regulatory mechanism capable of coordinating various cellular functions largely relying on the microtubule network. Moreover, HDAC6 action as a regulator of the HSP90 chaperone activity adds to the multifunctionality of the protein, and allows us to propose a critical role for HDAC6 in mediating and coordinating various cellular events in response to different stressful stimuli.

Regulation of protein turnover by acetyltransferases and deacetylases

Lysine acetylation was first discovered as a post-translational modification of histones and has long been considered as a direct regulator of chromatin structure and function. Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) are the enzymes involved in this modification and they were thought to act as critical gene silencers or activators. Further investigations indicated that lysine acetylation can also occur in non-histone proteins and pointed to HATs and HDACs as multifunctional factors, acting not only on transcription but also on a variety of other cellular processes. One of these processes is the regulation of protein stability. Indeed, at least four independent HATs, namely CBP, p300, PCAF and TAF1, and one HDAC, HDAC6, possess intrinsic ubiquitin-linked functions in addition to their regular HAT/HDAC activities. Furthermore HATs and HDACs can be found in multi-subunit complexes with enzymes of the ubiquitination machinery. Moreover, lysine acetylation itself was found to directly or indirectly affect protein stability. These observations reveal therefore a tight link between protein lysine acetylation and ubiquitination and designate the acetylation machinery as a determinant element in the control of cellular proteolytic activities.

Protein pE120R of African swine fever virus is post-translationally acetylated as revealed by post-source decay MALDI mass spectrometry

Post-translational modification of proteins is a key regulatory event in many cellular processes. African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large DNA virus that contains about 150 open reading frames (ORF) which encode for more than 150 polypeptides, most of them without assigned function. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) followed by Post-Source Decay Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (PSD-MALDI-MS) revealed that ASFV protein pE120R, essential for virus transport from assembly sites to plasma membranes, is acetylated at the N-terminal Ala residue during infection. To our knowledge, this is the first acetylated ASFV protein described and this modification might be relevant to ASFV life cycle since many viruses use the acetylation signaling pathway as a primary target for viral proteins after infection.

Regulation of SV40 large T-antigen stability by reversible acetylation

Reversible acetylation on protein lysine residues has been shown to regulate the function of both nuclear proteins such as histones and p53 and cytoplasmic proteins such as alpha-tubulin. To identify novel acetylated proteins, we purified several proteins by the affinity to an anti-acetylated-lysine antibody from cells treated with trichostatin A (TSA). Among the proteins identified, here we report acetylation of the SV40 large T antigen (T-Ag). The acetylation site was determined to be lysine-697, which is located adjacent to the C-terminal Cdc4 phospho-degron (CPD). Overexpression of the CBP acetyltransferase acetylated T-Ag, whereas HDAC1, HDAC3 and SIRT1 bound and deacetylated T-Ag. The acetylation and deacetylation occurred independently of p53, a binding partner of T-Ag, but the acetylation was enhanced in the presence of p53. T-Ag in the cells treated with TSA and NA or the acetylation mimic mutant (K697Q) became unstable in COS-7 cells, suggesting that acetylation regulates stability of T-Ag. Indeed, NIH3T3 cells stably expressing K697Q showed decreased anchorage-independent growth compared with those expressing wild type or the K697R mutant. These results demonstrate that acetylation destabilizes T-Ag and regulates the transforming activity of T-Ag in NIH3T3 cells.

The geminivirus nuclear shuttle protein NSP inhibits the activity of AtNSI, a vascular-expressed Arabidopsis acetyltransferase regulated with the sink-to-source transition

DNA viruses can suppress or enhance the activity of cellular acetyltransferases to regulate virus gene expression and to affect cell cycle progression in support of virus replication. A role for protein acetylation in regulating the nuclear export of the bipartite geminivirus (Begomovirus) DNA genome was recently suggested by the findings that the viral movement protein NSP, a nuclear shuttle protein, interacts with the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) nuclear acetyltransferase AtNSI (nuclear shuttle protein interactor), and that this interaction and NSI expression are necessary for cabbage leaf curl virus infection and pathogenicity. To further investigate the consequences of NSI-NSP interactions, and the potential role of NSI in Arabidopsis growth and development, we used a reverse yeast two-hybrid selection and deletion analysis to identify NSI mutants that failed to interact with NSP, and promoter fusions to a uidA reporter gene to analyze the pattern of NSI expression during plant development. We found that NSI self assembles into highly active enzyme complexes and that high concentrations of NSP, in the absence of viral DNA, can inhibit NSI activity in vitro. Based on our detailed analysis of three NSI missense mutants, we identified an 88-amino acid putative domain, which spans NSI residues 107 to 194, as being required for both NSI oligomerization and its interaction with NSP. Finally, we found that NSI is predominantly transcribed in vascular cells, and that its expression is developmentally regulated in a manner that resembles the sink-to-source transition. Our data indicate that NSP can inhibit NSI activity by interfering with its assembly into highly active complexes, and suggest a mechanism by which NSP can both recruit NSI to regulate nuclear export of the viral genome and down-regulate NSI activity on cellular targets, perhaps to affect cellular differentiation and favor virus replication.

Chromatin regulation of virus infection

Cellular chromatin forms a dynamic structure that maintains the stability and accessibility of the host DNA genome. Viruses that enter and persist in the nucleus must, therefore, contend with the forces that drive chromatin formation and regulate chromatin structure. In some cases, cellular chromatin inhibits viral gene expression and replication by suppressing DNA accessibility. In other cases, cellular chromatin provides essential structure and organization to the viral genome and is necessary for successful completion of the viral life cycle. Consequently, viruses have acquired numerous mechanisms to manipulate cellular chromatin to ensure viral genome survival and propagation.

Smads and chromatin modulation

Smad proteins are critical intracellular effector proteins and regulators of transforming growth factor type beta (TGFbeta) modulated gene transcription. They directly convey signals that initiate at ligand-bound receptor complexes and end in the nucleus with changes in programs of gene expression. Activated Smad proteins seem to recruit chromatin modifying proteins to target genes besides cooperating with DNA-bound transcription factors. We survey here the current and still emerging knowledge on Smad-binding factors, and their different mechanisms of chromatin modification in particular, in Smad-dependent TGFbeta signaling.

Regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gene expression by clade-specific Tat proteins

The major group of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains that comprise the current global pandemic have diversified during their worldwide spread into at least 10 distinct subtypes, or clades. Subtype C predominates in sub-Saharan Africa and is responsible for the majority of worldwide HIV-1 infections, subtype B predominates in North America and Europe, and subtype E is prevalent in Southeast Asia. Significant amino acid variations have been observed among the clade-specific Tat proteins. For the present study, we examined clade-specific interactions between Tat, transactivation-responsive (TAR) element, and P-TEFb proteins and how these interactions may modulate the efficiency of HIV-1 transcription. Clade-specific Tat proteins significantly modified viral gene expression. Tat proteins derived from HIV-1 clades C and E were strong transactivators of long terminal repeat (LTR) activity; Tat E also had a longer half-life than the other Tat proteins and interacted more efficiently with the stem-loop TAR element. Chimeric Tat proteins harboring the Tat E activation domain were strong transactivators of LTR expression. While Tat B, C, and E were able to rescue a Tat-defective HIV-1 proviral clone, Tat E was significantly more efficient at rescue than Tat C, possibly due to the relative stability of the Tat protein. Swapping the activation domains of Tat B, C, and E identified the cyclin T1 association domain as a critical determinant of the transactivation efficiency and of Tat-defective HIV-1 provirus rescue.

HIV-1 Tat targets Tip60 to impair the apoptotic cell response to genotoxic stresses

HIV-1 transactivator Tat uses cellular acetylation signalling by targeting several cellular histone acetyltransferases (HAT) to optimize its various functions. Although Tip60 was the first HAT identified to interact with Tat, the biological significance of this interaction has remained obscure. We had previously shown that Tat represses Tip60 HAT activity. Here, a new mechanism of Tip60 neutralization by Tat is described, where Tip60 is identified as a substrate for the newly reported p300/CBP-associated E4-type ubiquitin-ligase activity, and Tat uses this mechanism to induce the polyubiquitination and degradation of Tip60. Tip60 targeting by Tat results in a dramatic impairment of the Tip60-dependent apoptotic cell response to DNA damage. These data reveal yet unknown strategies developed by HIV-1 to increase cell resistance to genotoxic stresses and show a role of Tat as a modulator of cellular protein ubiquitination.

Cooperative interaction of C/EBP beta and Tat modulates MCP-1 gene transcription in astrocytes

The chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) is one of the most potent monocyte chemoattractants whose level is elevated during the course of AIDS dementia. Earlier studies showed that HIV-1 Tat protein is able to induce transcription of the MCP-1 promoter in astrocytic cells. Furthermore, the TGFbeta-1 signaling pathway through its regulatory proteins, Smads, modulates Tat activation of MCP-1. Here, we demonstrate that C/EBPbeta, whose activity is enhanced by a variety of cytokines during the course of viral infection, can stimulate basal- and Tat-mediated transcription of MCP-1 in human astrocytic cells. Results using promoter deletion mutants suggested the importance of multiple C/EBPbeta binding sites scattered within -200 to +1 of the MCP-1 promoter in the observed activity. Results from DNA binding studies have shown that the interaction of C/EBPbeta with its DNA motif is diminished by the C/EBPbeta homologous protein, CHOP, which possesses the ability to suppress the stimulatory effect of C/EBPbeta on MCP-1 transcription. Tat, which possesses the ability to interact with C/EBPbeta, alleviates the negative effect of CHOP and restores C/EBPbeta interaction with the DNA. Furthermore, Smad3 and its C-terminal regulatory motif, MH2, interact with C/EBPbeta and modulate its DNA binding and transcriptional activity on the MCP-1 promoter. Our results show that the physical and functional interactions of C/EBPbeta and Tat are severely affected by the presence of Smad3 and MH2. Altogether, these observations identify C/EBPbeta as a new partner for Tat in stimulating MCP-1 transcription in astrocytes and suggest that the delicate balance among the downstream regulatory proteins of several cytokines and immunomodulators can dictate the level of expression of chemoattractants, including MCP-1. Hence, inappropriate expression and function of regulatory proteins such as C/EBPbeta and Smads by Tat may induce MCP-1 production in astrocytes and contribute to the neuropathogenesis of AIDS through stimulation of inflammation in the CNS.

Epigenetics and cancer

Epigenetic mechanisms act to change the accessibility of chromatin to transcriptional regulation locally and globally via modifications of the DNA and by modification or rearrangement of nucleosomes. Epigenetic gene regulation collaborates with genetic alterations in cancer development. This is evident from every aspect of tumor biology including cell growth and differentiation, cell cycle control, DNA repair, angiogenesis, migration, and evasion of host immunosurveillance. In contrast to genetic cancer causes, the possibility of reversing epigenetic codes may provide new targets for therapeutic intervention.

Acetylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 is permissive for tyrosine phosphorylation

Background

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins are key moderators of insulin action. Their specific regulation determines downstream protein-protein interactions and confers specificity on growth factor signalling. Regulatory mechanisms that have been identified include phosphorylation of IRS proteins on tyrosine and serine residues and ubiquitination of lysine residues. This study investigated other potential molecular mechanisms of IRS-1 regulation.

Results

Using the sos recruitment yeast two-hybrid system we found that IRS-1 and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) interact in the cytoplasmic compartment of yeast cells. The interaction mapped to the C-terminus of IRS-1 and was confirmed through co-immunoprecipitation in vitro of recombinant IRS-1 and HDAC2. HDAC2 bound to IRS-1 in mammalian cells treated with phorbol ester or after prolonged treatment with insulin/IGF-1 and also in the livers of ob/ob mice but not PTP1B knockout mice. Thus, the association occurs under conditions of compromised insulin signalling. We found that IRS-1 is an acetylated protein, of which the acetylation is increased by treatment of cells with Trichostatin A (TSA), an inhibitor of HDAC activity. TSA-induced increases in acetylation of IRS-1 were concomitant with increases in tyrosine phosphorylation in response to insulin. These effects were confirmed using RNA interference against HDAC2, indicating that HDAC2 specifically prevents phosphorylation of IRS-1 by the insulin receptor.

Conclusions

Our results show that IRS-1 is an acetylated protein, a post-translational modification that has not been previously described. Acetylation of IRS-1 is permissive for tyrosine phosphorylation and facilitates insulin-stimulated signal transduction. Specific inhibition of HDAC2 may increase insulin sensitivity in otherwise insulin resistant conditions.

Administration of HDAC inhibitors to reactivate HIV-1 expression in latent cellular reservoirs: implications for the development of therapeutic strategies

The discovery of powerful antiviral compounds in the 90's raised the hope that the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) might be eradicated. However, if these drugs succeed in decreasing and controlling viral replication, complete eradication of the virus is nowadays impossible. The persistence of virus even after long periods of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) mainly results from the presence of cellular reservoirs that contain transcriptionally competent latent viruses capable of producing infectious particles after cellular activation. These latently infected cells are a permanent source for virus reactivation and lead to a rebound of the viral load after interruption of HAART. Activation of HIV gene expression in these cells combined with an effective HAART has been proposed as an adjuvant therapy that could lead to the elimination of the latently infected cells and then to the eradication of the infection. In this context, we have previously demonstrated that deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) synergize with TNF-induced NF-kappaB to activate the HIV-1 promoter. The physiological relevance of the TNF/HDACi synergism was shown on HIV-1 replication in both acutely and latently HIV-infected cell lines. Based on these results, we propose the administration of deacetylase inhibitor(s) together with continuous HAART as a new potential therapeutic perspective to decrease the pool of latent HIV reservoirs by forcing viral expression.

Coactivators p300 and PCAF physically and functionally interact with the foamy viral trans-activator

Background

Foamy virus Bel1/Tas trans-activators act as key regulators of gene expression and directly bind to Bel1 response elements (BRE) in both the internal and the 5'LTR promoters leading to strong transcriptional trans-activation. Cellular coactivators interacting with Bel1/Tas are unknown to date.

Results

Transient expression assays, co-immunoprecipitation experiments, pull-down assays, and Western blot analysis were used to demonstrate that the coactivator p300 and histone acetyltransferase PCAF specifically interact with the retroviral trans-activator Bel1/Tas in vivo. Here we show that the Bel1/Tas-mediated trans-activation was enhanced by the coactivator p300, histone acetyltransferases PCAF and SRC-1 based on the crucial internal promoter BRE. The Bel1/Tas-interacting region was mapped to the C/H1 domain of p300 by co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down assays. In contrast, coactivator SRC-1 previously reported to bind to the C-terminal domain of p300 did not directly interact with the Bel1 protein but nevertheless enhanced Bel1/Tas-mediated trans-activation. Cotransfection of Bel1/Tas and p300C with an expression plasmid containing the C/H1domain partially inhibited the p300C-driven trans-activation.

Conclusions

Our data identify p300 and PCAF as functional partner molecules that directly interact with Bel1/Tas. Since the acetylation activities of the three coactivators reside in or bind to the C-terminal regions of p300, a C/H1 expression plasmid was used as inhibitor. This is the first report of a C/H1 domain-interacting retroviral trans-activator capable of partially blocking the strong Bel1/Tas-mediated activation of the C-terminal region of coactivator p300. The potential mechanisms and functional roles of the three histone and factor acetyltransferases p300, PCAF, and SRC-1 in Bel1/Tas-mediated trans-activation are discussed.

Increased human cytomegalovirus replication in fibroblasts after treatment with therapeutical plasma concentrations of valproic acid

Valproic acid (2-propylpentanoic acid, VPA), an effective inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDAC) is used for the treatment of epilepsia. In this study, structure-activity relationships for the action of structurally modified VPA derivatives on human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication and HDAC inhibition were defined. Pretreatment of human foreskin fibroblasts with VPA (0.125-1mM) caused a concentration-dependent increase of HCMV immediate early and antigen late antigen expression. Structure-activity relationships of VPA derivatives for HCMV stimulation were compared to those for teratogenic action and those for HDAC inhibition. Side chain elongation and introduction of a triple bond in 4-position of the other chain caused teratogenicity, stimulated HCMV replication, and increased HDAC inhibition, as demonstrated by enhanced levels of acetylated histones. Teratogenic VPA derivatives with a branched chain in 3-position as well as a non-teratogenic anticonvulsive active VPA derivative did not stimulate HCMV or accumulation of acetylated histones. This demonstrates a strict correlation between inhibition of HDAC and increased HCMV replication.

p53 targets simian virus 40 large T antigen for acetylation by CBP

Simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (T Ag) interacts with the tumor suppressor p53 and the transcriptional coactivators CBP and p300. Binding of these cellular proteins in a ternary complex has been implicated in T Ag-mediated transformation. It has been suggested that the ability of CBP/p300 to modulate p53 function underlies p53's regulation of cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. In this study, we provide further evidence that CBP activity may be mediated through its synergistic action with p53. We demonstrate that SV40 T Ag is acetylated in vivo in a p53-dependent manner and T Ag acetylation is largely mediated by CBP. The acetylation of T Ag is dependent on its interaction with p53 and on p53's interaction with CBP. We have mapped the site of acetylation on T Ag to the C-terminal lysine residue 697. This acetylation site is conserved between the T antigens of the human polyomaviruses JC and BK, which are also known to interact with p53. We show that both JC and BK T antigens are also acetylated at corresponding sites in vivo. While other proteins are known to be acetylated by CBP/p300, none are known to depend on p53 for acetylation. T Ag acetylation may provide a regulatory mechanism for T Ag binding to a cellular factor or play a role in another aspect of T Ag function.

Functional interaction between class II histone deacetylases and ICP0 of herpes simplex virus type 1

This study describes the physical and functional interactions between ICP0 of herpes simplex virus type 1 and class II histone deacetylases (HDACs) 4, 5, and 7. Class II HDACs are mainly known for their participation in the control of cell differentiation through the regulation of the activity of the transcription factor MEF2 (myocyte enhancer factor 2), implicated in muscle development and neuronal survival. Immunofluorescence experiments performed on transfected cells showed that ICP0 colocalizes with and reorganizes the nuclear distribution of ectopically expressed class I and II HDACs. In addition, endogenous HDAC4 and at least one of its binding partners, the corepressor protein SMRT (for silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid receptor), undergo changes in their nuclear distribution in ICP0-transfected cells. As a result, during infection endogenous HDAC4 colocalizes with ICP0. Coimmunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays confirmed that class II but not class I HDACs specifically interacted with ICP0 through their amino-terminal regions. This region, which is not conserved in class I HDACs but homologous to the MITR (MEF2-interacting transcription repressor) protein, is responsible for the repression, in a deacetylase-independent manner, of MEF2 by sequestering it under an inactive form in the nucleus. Consequently, we show that ICP0 is able to overcome the HDAC5 amino-terminal- and MITR-induced MEF2A repression in gene reporter assays. This is the first report of a viral protein interacting with and controlling the repressor activity of class II HDACs. We discuss the putative consequences of such an interaction for the biology of the virus both during lytic infection and reactivation from latency.

Furin cleavage of the HIV-1 Tat protein

Extracellular human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) Tat protein and Tat-derived peptides are biologically active but mechanisms of Tat processing are not known. Within the highly conserved basic region of HIV-1 Tat protein (amino acids, a.a. 48-56), we identified two putative furin cleavage sites and showed that Tat protein was cleaved in vitro at the second site, RQRR\ (a.a. 53-56\). This in vitro cleavage was blocked by a monoclonal antibody that binds near the cleavage site or by the furin inhibitor alpha-1 PDX. Monocytoid cells rich in furin also degraded Tat and this process was slowed by the furin inhibitor or the specific monoclonal antibody. Furin processing did not affect the rates for Tat uptake and nuclear accumulation in HeLa or Jurkat cells, but the transactivation activity was greatly reduced. Furin processing is a likely mechanism for inactivating extracellular HIV-1 Tat protein.

Regulating histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases

Histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases regulate the acetylation of histones and transcription factors, and in doing so have major roles in the control of cell fate. Many recent results have indicated that their function is strictly regulated in cells through the modulation of their levels, activity and availability for interaction with specific transcription factors. In this review, we present the various molecular mechanisms that bring about this tight regulation and discuss how these regulatory events influence cellular responses to environmental changes.

HCMV IE2-mediated inhibition of HAT activity downregulates p53 function

Targeting of cellular histone acetyltransferases (HATs) by viral proteins is important in the development of virus-associated diseases. The immediate-early 2 protein (IE2) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) binds to the tumor suppressor, p53, and inactivates its functions by unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that IE2 binds to the HAT domain of the p53 coactivators, p300 and CREB-binding protein (CBP), and blocks their acetyltransferase activity on both histones and p53. The minimal HAT inactivation region on IE2 involves the N-terminal 98 amino acids. The in vivo DNA binding of p53 and local histone acetylation on p53-dependent promoters are all reduced by IE2, but not by mutant IE2 proteins that lack the HAT inhibition region. Furthermore, the p53 acetylation site mutant, K320/373/382R, retains both DNA binding and promoter transactivation activity in vivo and these effects are repressed by IE2 as well. Together with the finding that only wild-type IE2 exerts an antiapoptotic effect, our results suggest that HCMV IE2 downregulates p53-dependent gene activation by inhibiting p300/CBP-mediated local histone acetylation and that IE2 may have oncogenic activity.

Oncomodulatory signals by regulatory proteins encoded by human cytomegalovirus: a novel role for viral infection in tumor progression

A high frequency of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genome and antigens in tumor samples of patients with different malignancies is now well documented, although the causative role for HCMV in the development of the neoplasias remains to be established. HCMV infection can modulate multiple cellular regulatory and signalling pathways in a manner similar to that of oncoproteins of small DNA tumor viruses such as human papilloma virus or adenoviruses. However, in contrast to these DNA tumor viruses, HCMV infection fails to transform susceptible normal human cells. There is now growing evidence that tumor cells with disrupted regulatory and signalling pathways enable HCMV to modulate their properties including stimulation of cell proliferation, survival, invasion, production of angiogenic factors, and immunogenic properties. In contrast to previously suggested "hit and run" transformation we suggest that persistence in tumor cells is essential for HCMV to fully express its oncomodulatory effects. These effects are observed particularly in persistent HCMV infection and are mediated mainly by activity of HCMV regulatory proteins. In persistently HCMV-infected tumor cell lines - a selection of novel, slowly growing virus variants with changes in coding sequences for virus regulatory proteins takes place. As a result, oncomodulatory effects of HCMV infection may lead to a shift to more malignant phenotype of tumor cells contributing to tumor progression.

P/CAF and GCN5 acetylate the AML1/MDS1/EVI1 fusion oncoprotein

Lysine acetyltransferases modulate the activity of many genes by modifying the lysine residues of both core histones and transcription-related factors. These modifications are tightly controlled in the cell because they are involved in vital processes such as cell cycle progression, differentiation, and apoptosis. Therefore, any deregulation of acetylation/deacetylation equilibrium or inappropriate modifications could lead to different diseases. Since previous studies have shown that some oncoproteins also undergo this modification, acetylation could be involved in the processes of cell transformation and oncogenesis. Here, we report that AML1/MDS1/EVI1 (AME), a repressor produced by the t(3;21) associated with human leukemia, physically interacts with the acetyltransferases P/CAF and GCN5. Our data suggest that AME has at least two binding sites for these acetyltransferases, one of which is in the Runt domain. Both P/CAF and GCN5 efficiently acetylate AME in vivo in the central region. AME acetylation has no effect on its interaction with the co-repressor CtBP1. Finally, we demonstrate that the co-expression of AME and either P/CAF or GCN5 abrogates the repression of an AML1-dependent reporter gene.

Tip60 acetyltransferase activity is controlled by phosphorylation

Here we show that the phosphorylation of histone acetyltransferase Tip60, a target of human immunodeficiency virus, type 1-encoded transactivator Tat, plays a crucial role in the control of its catalytic activity. Baculovirus-based expression and purification of Tip60 combined with mass spectrometry allowed the identification of serines 86 and 90 as two major sites of phosphorylation in vivo. The phosphorylation of Tip60 was found to modulate its histone acetyltransferase activity. One of the identified phosphorylated serines, Ser-90, was within a consensus cyclin B/Cdc2 site. Ser-90 was specifically phosphorylated in vitro by the cyclin B/Cdc2 complex. Accordingly, the phosphorylation of Tip60 was enhanced after drug-induced arrest of cells in G(2)/M. This G(2)/M-dependent phosphorylation of Tip60 was abolished by treating cells with a specific inhibitor of the cyclin-dependent kinase, roscovitin. All together, these results strongly suggest a G(2)/M-dependent control of Tip60 activity.