title: Suz12 is essential for mouse development and for EZH2 histone methyltransferase activity.
abstract: SUZ12 is a recently identified Polycomb group (PcG) protein, which together with EZH2 and EED forms different Polycomb repressive complexes (PRC2/3). These complexes contain histone H3 lysine (K) 27/9 and histone H1 K26 methyltransferase activity specified by the EZH2 SET domain. Here we show that mice lacking Suz12, like Ezh2 and Eed mutant mice, are not viable and die during early postimplantation stages displaying severe developmental and proliferative defects. Consistent with this, we demonstrate that SUZ12 is required for proliferation of cells in tissue culture. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SUZ12 is essential for the activity and stability of the PRC2/3 complexes in mouse embryos, in tissue culture cells and in vitro. Strikingly, Suz12-deficient embryos show a specific loss of di- and trimethylated H3K27, demonstrating that Suz12 is indeed essential for EZH2 activity in vivo. In conclusion, our data demonstrate an essential role of SUZ12 in regulating the activity of the PRC2/3 complexes, which are required for regulating proliferation and embryogenesis.
authors.affiliation: European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pasini
authors.forename: Adrian P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Bracken
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Eros
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lazzerini Denchi
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Helin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D047108:Embryonic Development; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006367:HeLa Cells; D000076983:Histone Methyltransferases; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D011496:Protein Methyltransferases; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C430461:SUZ12 protein, human; C494163:Suz12 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000076983:Histone Methyltransferases; D011496:Protein Methyltransferases; C498409:EZH2 protein, human; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; C498410:Ezh2 protein, mouse; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2