Site-specific loss of acetylation upon phosphorylation of histone H3.
Post-translational modification of histones is a central aspect of gene regulation. Emerging data indicate that modification at one site can influence modification of a second site. As one example, histone H3 phosphorylation at serine 10 (Ser(10)) facilitates acetylation of lysine 14 (Lys(14)) by Gcn5 in vitro (, ). In vivo, phosphorylation of H3 precedes acetylation at certain promoters. Whether H3 phosphorylation globally affects acetylation, or whether it affects all acetylation sites in H3 equally, is not known. We have taken a genetic approach to this question by mutating Ser(10) in H3 to fix either a negative or a neutral charge at this position, followed by analysis of the acetylation states of the mutant histones using site-specific antibodies. Surprisingly, we find that conversion of Ser(10) to glutamate (S10E) or aspartate (S10D) causes almost complete loss of H3 acetylation at lysine 9 (Lys(9)) in vivo. Acetylation of Lys(9) is also significantly reduced in cells bearing mutations in the Glc7 phosphatase that increase H3 phosphorylation levels. Mutation of Ser(10) in H3 and the concomitant loss of Lys(9) acetylation has minimal effects on expression of a Gcn5-dependent reporter gene. However, synergistic growth defects are observed upon loss of GCN5 in cells bearing H3 Ser(10) mutations that are reminiscent of delays in G(2)/M progression caused by combined loss of GCN5 and acetylation site mutations. Together these results demonstrate that H3 phosphorylation directly causes site-specific and opposite changes in acetylation levels of two residues within this histone, Lys(9) and Lys(14), and they highlight the importance of these histone modifications to normal cell functions.
Edmondson
Diane G
DG
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Davie
Judith K
JK
Zhou
Jenny
J
Mirnikjoo
Banafsheh
B
Tatchell
Kelly
K
Dent
Sharon Y R
SY
D000107:Acetylation; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017405:Herpes Simplex Virus Protein Vmw65 / Q000378:metabolism; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016296:Mutagenesis; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D012694:Serine / Q000235:genetics; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D050880:p300-CBP Transcription Factors; D000099224:p300-CBP-Associated Factor
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D017405:Herpes Simplex Virus Protein Vmw65; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D006657:Histones; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D012694:Serine; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D050880:p300-CBP Transcription Factors; D000099224:p300-CBP-Associated Factor; C052130:GAL4 protein, S cerevisiae