Acetylation and calcium-dependent phosphorylation of histone H3 in nuclei from butyrate-treated HeLa cells

IP3-mediated Ca2+ signals regulate larval to pupal transition under nutrient stress through the H3K36 methyltransferase Set2

Persistent loss of dietary protein usually signals a shutdown of key metabolic pathways. In Drosophila larvae that have reached a 'critical weight' and can pupariate to form viable adults, such a metabolic shutdown would needlessly lead to death. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated calcium (IP3/Ca2+) release in some interneurons (vGlutVGN6341) allows Drosophila larvae to pupariate on a protein-deficient diet by partially circumventing this shutdown through upregulation of neuropeptide signaling and the expression of ecdysone synthesis genes. Here, we show that IP3/Ca2+ signals in vGlutVGN6341 neurons drive expression of Set2, a gene encoding Drosophila Histone 3 Lysine 36 methyltransferase. Furthermore, Set2 expression is required for larvae to pupariate in the absence of dietary protein. IP3/Ca2+ signal-driven Set2 expression upregulates key Ca2+-signaling genes through a novel positive-feedback loop. Transcriptomic studies, coupled with analysis of existing ChIP-seq datasets, identified genes from larval and pupal stages that normally exhibit robust H3K36 trimethyl marks on their gene bodies and concomitantly undergo stronger downregulation by knockdown of either the intracellular Ca2+ release channel IP3R or Set2. IP3/Ca2+ signals thus regulate gene expression through Set2-mediated H3K36 marks on select neuronal genes for the larval to pupal transition.

Phospho-acetylation of histone H3 in the amygdala after acute lithium chloride

Acute injection of a high dose of lithium chloride (LiCl) increases c-Fos expression in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). We investigated if LiCl-induced c-Fos expression in the CeA is correlated with histone acetylation and phospho-acetylation. Chromatin modifications such as acetylation and phosphorylation are necessary for optimal gene expression, and gene expression may be increased by inhibiting the activity of histone deacetylases. LiCl (0.15 M, 12 ml/kg, i.p.) highly increased the levels of acetylation and phospho-acetylation of histone H3 in the CeA. The time course of these increases closely corresponded to and preceded the time course of c-Fos induction. Moreover, LiCl-induced c-Fos was co-localized with phospho-acetylated histone H3 in a majority of c-Fos-positive cells in the CeA. Systemic administration of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, sodium butyrate (NaB; 0.3 M, 0.4 g/kg, i.p.), significantly increased the levels of LiCl-induced c-Fos and phospho-acetylated histone H3 in the CeA. NaB also enhanced conditioned taste aversion learning induced by pairing saccharin consumption with LiCl injection, by making the conditioned taste aversion more resistant to extinction. These results suggest that LiCl-induced c-Fos expression may be regulated by modification of histone H3, especially phospho-acetylation, in the CeA. Furthermore, the level of phospho-acetylation of histone H3, c-Fos induction, and amygdalar-dependent taste aversion learning is constrained by endogenous histone deacetylase activity.

Ca2+-Operated Transcriptional Networks: Molecular Mechanisms and In Vivo Models

Calcium is the most universal signal used by living organisms to convey information to many different cellular processes. In this review we present well-known and recently identified proteins that sense and decode the calcium signal and are key elements in the nucleus to regulate the activity of various transcriptional networks. When possible, the review also presents in vivo models in which the genes encoding these calcium sensors-transducers have been modified, to emphasize the critical role of these Ca2+-operated mechanisms in many physiological functions.

In vivo acetylation of CheY, a response regulator in chemotaxis of Escherichia coli

CheY, the excitatory response regulator in the chemotaxis system of Escherichia coli, can be modulated by two covalent modifications: phosphorylation and acetylation. Both modifications have been detected in vitro only. The role of CheY acetylation is still obscure, although it is known to be involved in chemotaxis and to occur in vitro by two mechanisms--acetyl-CoA synthetase-catalyzed transfer of acetyl groups from acetate to CheY and autocatalyzed transfer from AcCoA. Here, we succeeded in detecting CheY acetylation in vivo by three means--Western blotting with a specific anti-acetyl-lysine antibody, mass spectrometry, and radiolabeling with [(14)C]acetate in the presence of protein-synthesis inhibitor. Unexpectedly, the level and rate of CheY acetylation in vivo were much higher than that in vitro. Thus, before any treatment, 9-13% of the lysine residues were found acetylated, depending on the growth phase, meaning that, on average, essentially every CheY molecule was acetylated in vivo. This high level was mainly the outcome of autoacetylation. Addition of acetate caused an incremental increase in the acetylation level, in which acetyl-CoA synthetase was involved too. These findings may have far-reaching implications for the structure-function relationship of CheY.

Molecular mechanism of rat NHE3 gene promoter regulation by sodium butyrate

Sodium butyrate (NaB) stimulates sodium and water absorption by inducing colonic Na+/H+exchange. NaB induces Na+/H+exchanger (NHE)3 activity and protein and mRNA expression both in vivo and in vitro. Our previously published observations indicated that this induction is Ser/Thr kinase dependent and that NaB-responsive elements were localized within −320/−34 bp of the rat NHE3 promoter. Here we further delineate the mechanism of NaB-mediated NHE3 gene transcription. Transient and stable transfection of Caco-2 cells with NHE3 gene reporter constructs identified Sp binding site SpB at position −58/−55 nt as critical for NaB-mediated induction. Gel mobility shift (GMSA) and DNA affinity precipitation assays indicated NaB-induced binding of Sp3 and decreased binding of Sp1 to SpB element. While no changes in expression of Sp1 or Sp3 were noted, NaB induced phosphorylation of Sp1 and acetylation of Sp3. Sp3 was a more potent inducer of NHE3 gene transcription, which suggested that change in balance, favoring binding of Sp3 to the SpB site, would result in significant increase in NHE3 promoter activity. Small interfering RNA studies in Caco-2 cells and data from NaB-treated SL2 cells used as a reconstitution model confirmed this hypothesis. In addition to the SpB site, which played a permissive role, an upstream novel butyrate response element located at −196/−175 nt was necessary for maximal induction. GMSA identified a protein-DNA complex with a −196/−175 nt probe; this interaction was not affected by NaB treatment, thus suggesting that in response to NaB Sp3 binding to site SpB precedes and results in recruitment of the putative factor to this upstream site.

Histone deacetylases in acute myeloid leukaemia show a distinctive pattern of expression that changes selectively in response to deacetylase inhibitors

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) are a new class of drugs with significant antileukemic activity. To explore mechanisms of disease-specific HDI activity in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), we have characterised expression of all 18 members of the histone deacetylase family in primary AML blasts and in four control cell types, namely CD34+ progenitors from umbilical cord, either quiescent or cycling (post-culture), cycling CD34+ progenitors from GCSF-stimulated adult donors and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Only SIRT1 was consistently overexpressed (>2 fold) in AML samples compared with all controls, while HDAC6 was overexpressed relative to adult, but not neo-natal cells. HDAC5 and SIRT4 were consistently underexpressed. AML blasts and cell lines, exposed to HDIs in culture, showed both histone hyperacetylation and, unexpectedly, specific hypermethylation of H3 lysine 4. Such treatment also modulated the pattern of HDAC expression, with strong induction of HDAC11 in all myeloid cells tested and with all inhibitors (valproate, butyrate, TSA, SAHA), and lesser, more selective, induction of HDAC9 and SIRT4. The distinct pattern of HDAC expression in AML and its response to HDIs is of relevance to the development of HDI-based therapeutic strategies and may contribute to observed patterns of clinical response and development of drug resistance.

Luminal bacterial flora determines physiological expression of intestinal epithelial cytoprotective heat shock proteins 25 and 72

Heat shock proteins (HSP) 25 and 72 are expressed normally by surface colonocytes but not by small intestinal enterocytes. We hypothesized that luminal commensal microflora maintain the observed colonocyte HSP expression. The ability of the small intestine to respond to bacteria and their products and modulate HSPs has not been determined. The effects of luminal bacterial flora in surgically created midjejunal self-filling (SFL) vs. self-emptying (SEL) small-bowel blind loops on epithelial HSP expression were studied. HSP25 and HSP72 expression were assessed by immunoblot and immunohistochemistry. SFL were chronically colonized, whereas SEL contained levels of bacteria normal for the proximal small intestine. SFL creation significantly increased HSP25 and HSP72 expression relative to corresponding sections from SEL. Metronidazole treatment, which primarily affects anaerobic bacteria as well as a diet lacking fermentable fiber, significantly decreased SFL HSP expression. Small bowel incubation with butyrate ex vivo induced a sustained and significant upregulation of HSP25 and altered HSP72 expression, confirming the role of short-chain fatty acids. To determine whether HSPs induction altered responses to an injury, effects of the oxidant, monochloramine, on epithelial resistance and short-circuit current (I(sc)) responses to carbachol and glucose were compared. Increased SFL HSP expression was associated with protection against oxidant-induced decreases in transmural resistance and I(sc) responses to glucose, but not secretory responses to carbachol. In conclusion, luminal microflora and their metabolic byproducts direct expression of HSPs in gut epithelial cells, an effect that contributes to preservation of epithelial cell viability under conditions of stress.

Co-regulation of Acetylation and Phosphorylation of CheY, A Response Regulator in Chemotaxis of Escherichia coli

CheY, a response regulator of the chemotaxis system in Escherichia coli, can be activated by either phosphorylation or acetylation to generate clockwise rotation of the flagellar motor. Both covalent modifications are involved in chemotaxis, but the function of the latter remains obscure. To understand why two different modifications apparently activate the same function of CheY, we studied the effect that each modification exerts on the other. The phosphodonors of CheY, the histidine kinase CheA and acetyl phosphate, each strongly inhibited both the autoacetylation of the acetylating enzyme, acetyl-CoA synthetase (Acs), and the acetylation of CheY. CheZ, the enzyme that enhances CheY dephosphorylation, had the opposite effect and enhanced Acs autoacetylation and CheY acetylation. These effects of the phosphodonors and CheZ were not caused by their respective activities. Rather, they were caused by their interactions with Acs and, possibly, with CheY. In addition, the presence of Acs elevated the phosphorylation levels of both CheA and CheY, and acetate repressed this stimulation. These observations suggest that CheY phosphorylation and acetylation are linked and co-regulated. We propose that the physiological role of these mutual effects is at two levels: linking chemotaxis to the metabolic state of the cell, and serving as a tuning mechanism that compensates for cell-to-cell variations in the concentrations of CheA and CheZ.

Acetylation of histones associated with the p21WAF1/CIP1 gene by butyrate is not sufficient for p21WAF1/CIP1 gene transcription in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells

Butyric acid is well recognized as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, and changes in histone acetylation are thought to alter gene expression. The mechanism by which sodium butyrate (NaB) induces p21WAF1/CIP1, a critical gene involved in the antiproliferative effect of NaB, was studied at the chromatin level. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, acetylation of histone H3 was observed at the proximal region of the promoter within 30 min of NaB exposure and this extended to the distal region within 2 hr. By contrast, histone H4 was acetylated both at the proximal and the distal regions of the promoter within 30 min. NaB did not influence other histone modifications. NaB stimulated recruitment of the transcription factors ZBP89 and Sp1 as well as GCN5, but did not influence recruitment of Sp3, HDAC1, p300, or CBP. As recruitment of HDAC1 to the promoter appeared not to account for NaB-induced changes in histone acetylation, we aimed to influence HDAC activity by altering its phosphorylation status. The kinase inhibitor, H7, suppressed p21WAF1/CIP1 mRNA in both the absence and the presence of NaB without influencing the butyrate-induced hyperacetylation of H3 and H4 associated with the p21WAF1/CIP1 promoter. These results suggest that acetylation of histones at the p21WAF1/CIP1 promoter is not sufficient for NaB to exert antiproliferative effects via transcription of the p21WAF1/CIP1 gene. Induction of p21WAF1/CIP1 transcription by the phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, in the absence of changes in association of acetylated histones with the p21WAF1/CIP1 promoter provides further evidence of the importance of phosphorylation to p21WAF1/CIP1 transcription.

Regulation of macrophage cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression by modifications of histone H3

Some transcription factors involved in the regulation of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression in macrophage, including NF-kappaB, interact with p300, which contains histone acetyltransferase (HAT) enzyme complex. Chromatin structure is regulated by modifying enzymes, including HAT, and plays an important role in eukaryotic gene regulation through histone modification. We hypothesized that changes in chromatin structure related to phosphorylation and acetylation of histone H3 adjacent to key DNA binding sequence motif in the COX-2 promoter contribute to COX-2 gene activation in macrophages. Sodium butyrate (NaBT) is a short-chain fatty acid that possesses histone deacetyltransferase-inhibiting activity. Our data show that NaBT accentuates LPS-induced COX-2 gene expression at a transcriptional level, even though NaBT alone does not induce the COX-2 gene expression. Using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we showed that costimulation of RAW 264.7 cells with NaBT and LPS synergistically increases COX-2 gene expression through both acetylation and phosphorylation of histone H3 at the promoter site. Our data show that NaBT accentuates LPS-induced COX-2 gene expression through MAP kinase-dependent increase of phosphorylation and acetylation of histone H3 at the COX-2 promoter site. These data indicate that posttranslational modification of histone H3 has a major effect on COX-2 gene expression by macrophages.

Upregulation of activin A gene by butyrate in human colon cancer cell lines

Activin A has been reported to play a role in the progression of colorectal cancer. Because dietary fiber protects against colorectal cancer, we hypothesized that butyrate, a fermentation product of dietary fiber, may affect the expression of activin A in colon cancer cells. Semiquantitative RT-PCR demonstrated that the activin A gene was upregulated by sodium butyrate in the human colon cancer cell lines HT-29 and Caco-2 in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. However, the activin A gene did not respond to sodium butyrate in the human normal colonic cell line FHC, rat normal intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) line IEC-6, and the explant of rat colon. Flow cytometry and agarose gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA revealed that cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were induced by sodium butyrate but not exogenous activin A in HT-29 cells, indicating that activin A could not act as an autocrine factor in colon cancer cells. By assuming that activin A promotes colorectal cancer spread as a paracrine factor, our findings suggest that butyrate could act as a tumor promoter in some circumstances.

Requirement of Ca2+ and CaMKII for Stat1 Ser-727 phosphorylation in response to IFN-gamma

In response to IFN-gamma, the latent cytoplasmic protein signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (Stat1) becomes phosphorylated on Y701, dimerizes, and accumulates in the nucleus to activate transcription of IFN-gamma-responsive genes. For maximal gene activation, S727 in the transcription activation domain of Stat1 also is inducibly phosphorylated by IFN-gamma. We previously purified a group of nuclear proteins that interact specifically with the Stat1 transcription activation domain. In this report, we identified one of them as the multifunctional Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaMK) II. We demonstrate that IFN-gamma mobilizes a Ca(2+) flux in cells and activates CaMKII. CaMKII can interact directly with Stat1 and phosphorylate Stat1 on S727 in vitro. Inhibition of Ca(2+) flux or CaMKII results in a lack of S727 phosphorylation and Stat1-dependent gene activation, suggesting in vivo phosphorylation of Stat1 S727 by CaMKII. Thus two different cellular signaling events, IFN-gamma receptor occupation and Ca(2+) flux, are required for Stat1 to achieve maximal transcriptional activation through regulation of phosphorylation.

Mechanisms of Ca(2+)-dependent transcription

Ca(2+) has a central role in coupling synaptic activity and transcriptional responses. Recent studies have focused on Ca(2+)-dependent nuclear mechanisms that bring to the nucleosomal level cascades of events initiated in the submembranous space at the synapse. In addition, a new Ca(2+)-dependent interaction between a calcium sensor and DNA has been shown to regulate transcription directly.

Beneficial health effects of low-digestible carbohydrate consumption

Low-digestible carbohydrates represent a class of enzyme-resistant saccharides that have specific effects on the human gastrointestinal tract. in the small bowel, they affect nutrient digestion and absorption, glucose and lipid metabolism and protect against known risk factors of cardiovascular disease. In the colon they are mainly degraded by anaerobic bacteria in a process called fermentation. As a consequence, faecal nitrogen excretion is enhanced, which is used clinically to prevent or treat hepatic encephalopathy. Low-digestible carbohydrates are trophic to the epithelia of the ileum and colon, which helps to avoid bacterial translocation. Short-chain fatty acids are important fermentation products and are evaluated as new therapeutics in acute colitis. They are considered in the primary prevention of colorectal cancer. The bifidogenic effect of fructo-oligosaccharides merits further attention, Unfermented carbohydrates increase faecal bulk and play a role in the treatment of chronic functional constipation, symptomatic diverticulosis and, possibly, the irritable bowel syndrome. In conclusion, low-digestible carbohydrates may play a role in the maintenance of human digestive health. However, the strength of evidence differs between disease entities.

Cooperation between phosphorylation and acetylation processes in transcriptional control

We previously reported that the activation of the M promoter of the human choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) gene by butyrate and trapoxin in transfected CHP126 cells is blocked by PD98059, a specific mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor (E. Espinos and M. J. Weber, Mol. Brain Res. 56:118-124, 1998). We now report that the transcriptional effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors are mediated by an H7-sensitive serine/threonine protein kinase. Activation of the ChAT promoter by butyrate and trapoxin was blocked by 50 microM H7 in both transient- and stable-transfection assays. Overexpression of p300, a coactivator protein endowed with histone acetyltransferase activity, stimulated the ChAT promoter and had a synergistic effect on butyrate treatment. These effects were blocked by H7 and by overexpressed adenovirus E1A 12S protein. Moreover, both H7 and PD98059 suppressed the activation of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) and simian virus 40 promoters by butyrate in transfection experiments. Similarly, the induction of the cellular histone H1(0) gene by butyrate in CHP126 cells was blocked by H7 and by PD98059. Previous data (L. Cuisset, L. Tichonicky, P. Jaffray, and M. Delpech, J. Biol. Chem. 272:24148-24153, 1997) showed that the induction of the H1(0) gene by butyrate is blocked by okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases. We now show that the activation of the ChAT and RSV promoters by butyrate in transfected CHP126 cells is also blocked by 200 nM okadaic acid. Western blotting and in vivo metabolic labeling experiments showed that butyrate has a biphasic effect on histone H3 phosphorylation, i.e., depression for up to 16 h followed by stimulation. The data thus strongly suggest that the transcriptional effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors are mediated through the activation of MEK1 and of an H7-sensitive protein kinase in addition to protein phosphatases.

Review article: short chain fatty acids in health and disease

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been the subject of much research over the past few decades. They play a vital role in maintenance of colonic integrity and metabolism. They are produced when dietary fibre is fermented by colonic bacteria. SCFAs are avidly absorbed in the colon, at the same time as sodium and water absorption and bicarbonate secretion. Once absorbed, SCFAs are used preferentially as fuel for colonic epithelial cells and have trophic effects on the epithelium. Clinically, SCFAs have been studied as possible therapeutic agents in diversion colitis, ulcerative colitis, radiation proctitis, pouchitis and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Although some promising effects have been observed in uncontrolled studies, a specific therapeutic role for SCFAs remains to be defined. SCFAs may be the effector of the beneficial role of fibre in prevention of colon cancer.

DNA double-stranded breaks induce histone H2AX phosphorylation on serine 139

When mammalian cell cultures or mice are exposed to ionizing radiation in survivable or lethal amounts, novel mass components are found in the histone H2A region of two-dimensional gels. Collectively referred to as gamma, these components are formed in vivo by several procedures that introduce double-stranded breaks into DNA. gamma-Components, which appeared to be the only major novel components detected by mass or 32PO4 incorporation on acetic acid-urea-Triton X-100-acetic acid-urea-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide or SDS-acetic acid-urea-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide gels after exposure of cells to ionizing radiation, are shown to be histone H2AX species that have been phosphorylated specifically at serine 139. gamma-H2AX appears rapidly after exposure of cell cultures to ionizing radiation; half-maximal amounts are reached by 1 min and maximal amounts by 10 min. At the maximum, approximately 1% of the H2AX becomes gamma-phosphorylated per gray of ionizing radiation, a finding that indicates that 35 DNA double-stranded breaks, the number introduced by each gray into the 6 x 10(9) base pairs of a mammalian G1 genome, leads to the gamma-phosphorylation of H2AX distributed over 1% of the chromatin. Thus, about 0.03% of the chromatin appears to be involved per DNA double-stranded break. This value, which corresponds to about 2 x 10(6) base pairs of DNA per double-stranded break, indicates that large amounts of chromatin are involved with each DNA double-stranded break. Thus, gamma-H2AX formation is a rapid and sensitive cellular response to the presence of DNA double-stranded breaks, a response that may provide insight into higher order chromatin structures.

Regulation of the phosphorylation of human pharyngeal cell proteins by group A streptococcal surface dehydrogenase: signal transduction between streptococci and pharyngeal cells

Whether cell-to-cell communication results when group A streptococci interact with their target cells is unknown. Here, we report that upon contact with cultured human pharyngeal cells, both whole streptococci and purified streptococcal surface dehydrogenase (SDH) activate pharyngeal cell protein tyrosine kinase as well as protein kinase C, thus regulating the phosphorylation of cellular proteins. SDH, a major surface protein of group A streptococci, has both glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and ADP-ribosylating enzyme activities that may relate to early stages of streptococcal infection. Intact streptococci and purified SDH induce a similar protein phosphorylation pattern with the de novo tyrosine phosphorylation of a 17-kD protein found in the membrane/particulate fraction of the pharyngeal cells. However, this phosphorylation required the presence of cytosolic components. NH2-terminal amino acid sequence analysis identified the 17-kD protein as nuclear core histone H3. Both phosphotyrosine and phosphoserine-specific monoclonal antibodies reacted with the 17-kD protein by Western blot, suggesting that the binding of SDH to these pharyngeal cells elicits a novel signaling pathway that ultimately leads to activation of histone H3-specific kinases. Genistein-inhibitable phosphorylation of histone H3 indicates that tyrosine kinase plays a key role in this event. Treatment of pharyngeal cells with protein kinase inhibitors such as genistein and staurosporine significantly inhibited streptococcal invasion of pharyngeal cells. Therefore, these data indicated that streptococci/SDH-mediated phosphorylation plays a critical role in bacterial entry into the host cell. To identify the membrane receptor that elicits these signaling events, we found that SDH bound specifically to 30- and 32-kD membrane proteins in a direct ligand-binding assay. These findings clearly suggest that SDH plays an important role in cellular communication between streptococci and pharyngeal cells that may be important in host cell gene transcription, and hence in the pathogenesis of streptococcal infection.

Butyrate and the colonocyte. Implications for neoplasia

Butyrate is produced in the colon of mammals as a result of microbial fermentation of dietary fiber, undigested starch, and proteins. Butyrate may be an important protective agent in colonic carcinogenesis. Trophic effects on normal colonocytes in vitro and in vivo are induced by butyrate. In contrast, butyrate arrests the growth of neoplastic colonocytes and inhibits the preneoplastic hyperproliferation induced by some tumour promoters in vitro. We speculate that selective effects on G-protein activation may explain this paradox of butyrate's effects in normal versus neoplastic colonocytes. Butyrate induces differentiation of colon cancer cell lines. It also regulates the expression of molecules involved in colonocyte growth and adhesion and inhibits the expression of several protooncogenes relevant to colorectal carcinogenesis. Additional studies are needed to evaluate butyrate's antineoplastic effects in vivo and to understand its mechanism(s) of action.

Role of short-chain fatty acids in the prevention of colorectal cancer

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs: acetate, propionate, n-butyrate) arising in the large bowel during bacterial fermentation of dietary fibre and starch have paradoxical effects on colonic epithelial proliferation. While the three major SCFAs stimulate proliferation of normal crypt cells, n-butyrate and, to a lesser degree, propionate inhibit growth of colon cancer cell lines. At the molecular level, n-butyrate causes histone acetylation, favours differentiation, induces apoptosis and regulates the expression of various oncogenes. To understand the complex effects of SCFAs on carcinogenesis, it is important to study the intermediate stages of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence where a "switch" from stimulation to suppression of cell proliferation must occur.

Rapid histone H3 phosphorylation in response to growth factors, phorbol esters, okadaic acid, and protein synthesis inhibitors

When quiescent cells are stimulated with growth factors, phorbol esters, okadaic acid, or protein synthesis inhibitors, the early-response genes, which include c-fos and c-jun, are rapidly induced. The earliest growth factor- and phorbol ester-stimulated nuclear signaling events concomitant with proto-oncogene induction are the rapid phosphorylation of two chromatin-associated proteins, pp33 and pp15. We show here that the tumor promoter okadaic acid, which inhibits protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, and the protein synthesis inhibitors anisomycin and cycloheximide also stimulate pp33 and pp15 phosphorylation. Using transcriptional inhibitors, we show that this response is not a consequence of early gene induction. By peptide mapping and microsequencing, chromatin-associated pp15 is identified as histone H3. Upon stimulation, histone H3 is rapidly phosphorylated on serine residues within its highly charged, basic N-terminal domain. Thus, these diverse agents elicit a common early nuclear signal modulating nucleosomal structure or function, potentially contributing to conformational regulation of proto-oncogene induction.

A selective inhibitor of N8-acetylspermidine deacetylation in mice and HeLa cells without effects on histone deacetylation

The inhibitory effects of 7-[N-(3-aminopropyl)amino]heptan-2-one (APAH) on N8-acetylspermidine deacetylation were studied. In in vitro studies, APAH produced inhibition (apparent Ki of 0.18 microM) of N8-acetylspermidine deacetylation by the 100,000g supernatant fraction of rat liver. This apparent Ki was 60-fold less than the apparent Km (11 microM) for deacetylation of the substrate, N8-acetylspermidine, suggesting that APAH could be a potent, effective inhibitor in vivo. APAH was administered to mice by intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 200 mg/kg, and polyamine and acetylpolyamine levels in liver and spleen were measured. In tissues of control mice, N8-acetylspermidine was not detectable but increased to detectable levels 30-360 min after APAH treatment. These data are consistent with inhibition of the deacetylase by APAH. Increases in putrescine and N1-acetylspermidine levels occurred in liver after APAH treatment with increases in N1-acetylspermidine levels observed in spleen. In HeLa cells, a significant increase in N8-acetylspermidine was observed following 24 h exposure to 10 microM APAH while no change occurred in the acetylation level of HeLa cell histones. In contrast, 24 h exposure to 10 mM sodium butyrate produced no change in N8-acetylspermidine levels and an increase in the acetylation level of histones H4 and H2B. These results suggest that APAH has a relatively selective inhibitory effect on N8-acetylspermidine but not histone deacetylation. This is the first report of significant levels of N8-acetylspermidine in animal tissues and of the effects of in vivo inhibition of N8-acetylspermidine deacetylase.

Egg jelly induces the phosphorylation of histone H3 in spermatozoa of the sea urchin Arbacia punctulata

When spermatozoa of Arbacia punctulata are labeled with 32P and treated with soluble egg jelly, radiolabel is incorporated into histone H3. The time course of labeling correlates with the period of chromatin decondensation of sperm pronuclei in eggs. Phosphorylation is on serine and may result from increased turnover of phosphate on H3. The macromolecular fraction of egg jelly (and not the peptide fraction) is the inducer of H3 phosphorylation. The reaction is dependent on external Ca2+ and is induced by monensin and A23187. H3 phosphorylation is not induced by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX and relatively high (250 microM) concentrations of the protein kinase inhibitor H8 are needed to block the reaction, suggesting that it is cAMP independent. A surprising finding is that merely diluting the cells into Na+ free media is the most effective method to induce the radiolabeling of H3. These results are in contrast to findings on the egg jelly induced phosphorylation of histone H1 in S. purpuratus spermatozoa. These species differences must reflect the great evolutionary divergence between these two sea urchin species in the mechanism of regulation of the phosphorylation of nuclear proteins during fertilization.

The effect of starch malabsorption on fecal short-chain fatty acid excretion in man

To study the impact of starch malabsorption on fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations, 11 healthy volunteers consumed a controlled diet rich in starch for 2 4-week periods. They received the glucosidase inhibitor acarbose (Bay g 5421) in one of the study periods and placebo in the other. Stool wet weight increased by 68% and stool dry weight by 57% with acarbose. The fecal concentration (mumol/g wet weight) of n-butyrate (+58%) rose significantly when acarbose was added to the diet. The fecal excretion (mmol/day) of total short-chain fatty acids (+95%) and of their constituents acetate (+97%) and n-butyrate (+182%) was significantly higher when starch malabsorption was induced by acarbose.

Modulation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor binding and action by sodium butyrate in cultured pig kidney cells (LLC-PK1)

We have studied the effects of sodium butyrate (SB) on 1,25(OH)2D3 receptors in the pig kidney cell line (LLC-PK1). In this system, we have shown that 1,25(OH)2D3 induction of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase (24-hydroxylase) activity is dependent on the level of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptors. Treatment of confluent cells with SB (5 mM/48 h) caused an approximately 50% decrease in total receptors, whereas the affinity for 1,25(OH)2D3 was unchanged. At 5 mm, the action of SB on these receptors required more than 24 h to be detected. The effect of the decrease in receptors on the functional response to the hormone was studied by measuring the 1,25(OH)2D3 induction of 24-hydroxylase activity after treatment with SB. The induction of 24-hydroxylase activity at higher doses of hormone paralleled the reduction in receptors and was diminished by 25-50%. At low doses of hormone, the cells appear to be more sensitive to 1,25(OH)2D3 induction, exhibiting an unexplained increase in 24-hydroxylase activity compared to cells not exposed to SB. An additional effect of SB was also noted: SB decreased cell proliferation and inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation by 75% when added to cells prior to confluence. At confluence, SB caused a less drastic effect on protein and DNA synthesis. Therefore, most binding experiments were conducted at confluence when the SB effect on cell proliferation was less. Other short chain fatty acids in addition to SB were also tested. The action to decrease 1,25(OH)2D3 receptors was more specific upon exposure to SB. We have previously demonstrated up-regulation of 1,25(OH)2D3 receptors in LLC-PK1 cells after treatment with various vitamin D metabolites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Histone hyperacetylation: its effects on nucleosome conformation and stability

We have prepared nucleosome particles from HeLa cells that have been subjected to butyrate treatment. Fractions containing different levels of acetylation have been obtained within the range 7-17 acetyl groups per nucleosome. We have put special emphasis in the characterization of the particles with the highest level of histone acetylation. At low to physiological ionic strengths, these nucleosomes exhibit only small differences in hydrodynamic behavior and circular dichroism from control particles with minimal acetylation. There are, however, significant differences in thermal denaturation and nuclease sensitivity. In terms of stability toward high salt, the hyperacetylated and control particles behave identically. A model that reconciles these results is proposed. The major conclusion from our results, however, is that, at physiological ionic strength and in the absence of factors other than acetylation, the highly hyperacetylated nucleosomes remain essentially folded.

Histones and their modifications

Histones constitute the protein core around which DNA is coiled to form the basic structural unit of the chromosome known as the nucleosome. Because of the large amount of new histone needed during chromosome replication, the synthesis of histone and DNA is regulated in a complex manner. During RNA transcription and DNA replication, the basic nucleosomal structure as well as interactions between nucleosomes must be greatly altered to allow access to the appropriate enzymes and factors. The presence of extensive and varied post-translational modifications to the otherwise highly conserved histone primary sequences provides obvious opportunities for such structural alterations, but despite concentrated and sustained effort, causal connections between histone modifications and nucleosomal functions are not yet elucidated.

Stimulation of deoxyribonucleic acid excision repair in human fibroblasts pretreated with sodium butyrate

The effect of pretreatment with sodium butyrate on DNA excision repair was studied in intact and permeable confluent (i.e., growth-inhibited) diploid human fibroblasts. Exposure to 20 mM sodium butyrate for 48 h increased subsequent ultraviolet (UV)-induced [methyl-3H]thymidine incorporation by intact AG1518 fibroblasts by 1.8-fold and by intact IMR-90 fibroblasts by 1.2-1.3-fold. UV-induced incorporation of deoxy[5-3H]cytidine, deoxy[6-3H]cytidine, and deoxy[6-3H]uridine, however, showed lesser degrees of either stimulation or inhibition in butyrate-pretreated cells. This result suggested that measurements of butyrate's effect on DNA repair synthesis in intact cells are confounded by simultaneous changes in nucleotide metabolism. The effect of butyrate on excision repair was also studied in permeable human fibroblasts in which excision repair is dependent on exogenous nucleotides. Butyrate pretreatment stimulated UV-induced repair synthesis by 1.3-1.7-fold in permeable AG1518 cells and by 1.5-2-fold in permeable IMR-90 cells. This stimulation of repair synthesis was not due to changes in repair patch size or composition or in the efficiency of DNA damage production but rather resulted from a butyrate-induced increase in the rate of damage-specific incision of DNA. The increased rate of incision in butyrate-pretreated cells could be due either to increased levels of enzymes mediating steps in excision repair at or before incision or to alterations in chromatin structure making damage sites in DNA more accessible to repair enzymes.

Effects of butyric acid on cell cycle regulation and induction of histone H1(0) in mouse cells and tissue culture. Inducibility of H1 (0)in the late S-G2 phase of the cell cycle

We have examined the regulation of the synthesis of histone H1(0) in cultured mammalian cells treated with butyric acid. Treatment of cells with the inducer results in the arrest of synthesis of DNA and the other histones, while increasing the synthesis of H1(0) by a factor of 11. The induction of H1(0) by butyric acid occurs in a pulse with a peak at six hours, followed by a decrease to negligible levels. This pulse-like induction appears to be due to the fact that the cells are inducible for H1(0) only in the late S or G2 phases of the cell cycle. This, coupled with the fact that butyric acid blocks cells in G1, results in the burst of H1(0) synthesis after addition of the inducer. The G1 block provoked by butyric acid does not appear to result from the accumulation of H1(0). Removal of butyric acid from G1-blocked cells resulted in the resumption of cellular proliferation without prior loss of H1(0), demonstrating that the presence of this histone is not sufficient to prevent cellular proliferation.

The induction of chromosome condensation in tsBN2, a temperature-sensitive mutant of BHK21, inhibited by the calmodulin antagonist, W-7

The induction of premature chromosome condensation (PCC) in tsBN2 cells, a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of BHK21/13 which shows PCC at the non-permissive temperature, was almost completely inhibited by 40 microM W-7, an antagonist of calmodulin. The mitotic phosphorylation of histone H1 and H3 was also inhibited by W-7. W-5, a chlorine-deficient analogue of W-7 and which interacts weakly with calmodulin, did not inhibit the induction of PCC, even at a dose of 80 microM. The content of calmodulin in tsBN2 cells was increased by a temperature shift to 40.5 degrees C. All these results suggested that calmodulin is required for the chromosome condensation.

Transcriptionally active chromatin

Eukaryotic chromatin has a dynamic, complex hierarchical structure. Active gene transcription takes place on only a small proportion of it at a time. While many workers have tried to characterize active chromatin, we are still far from understanding all the biochemical, morphological and compositional features that distinguish it from inactive nuclear material. Active genes are apparently packaged in an altered nucleosome structure and are associated with domains of chromatin that are less condensed or more open than inactive domains. Active genes are more sensitive to nuclease digestions and probably contain specific nonhistone proteins which may establish and/or maintain the active state. Variant or modified histones as well as altered configurations or modifications of the DNA itself may likewise be involved. Practically nothing is known about the mechanisms that control these nuclear characteristics. However, controlled accessibility to regions of chromatin and specific sequences of DNA may be one of the primary regulatory mechanisms by which higher cells establish potentially active chromatin domains. Another control mechanism may be compartmentalization of active chromatin to certain regions within the nucleus, perhaps to the nuclear matrix. Topological constraints and DNA supercoiling may influence the active regions of chromatin and be involved in eukaryotic genomic functions. Further, the chromatin structure of various DNA regulatory sequences, such as promoters, terminators and enhancers, appears to partially regulate transcriptional activity.