MSX1 cooperates with histone H1b for inhibition of transcription and myogenesis.
During embryogenesis, differentiation of skeletal muscle is regulated by transcription factors that include members of the Msx homeoprotein family. By investigating Msx1 function in repression of myogenic gene expression, we identified a physical interaction between Msx1 and H1b, a specific isoform of mouse histone H1. We found that Msx1 and H1b bind to a key regulatory element of MyoD, a central regulator of skeletal muscle differentiation, where they induce repressed chromatin. Moreover, Msx1 and H1b cooperate to inhibit muscle differentiation in cell culture and in Xenopus animal caps. Our findings define a previously unknown function for "linker" histones in gene-specific transcriptional regulation.
Lee
Hansol
H
Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
Habas
Raymond
R
Abate-Shen
Cory
C
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D024510:Muscle Development; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D017570:MyoD Protein / Q000235:genetics; D032446:Myoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011485:Protein Binding; D034622:RNA Interference; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
D006657:Histones; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor; C497996:MSX1 protein, Xenopus; D017570:MyoD Protein; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029867:Xenopus Proteins