title: Mechanism of recruitment of class II histone deacetylases by myocyte enhancer factor-2.
abstract: Class II histone deacetylases (HDACs) bind myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) and repress specific gene expression in a calcium-dependent manner. Despite their significant physiological functions in muscle, immune and neuronal cells, the mechanism of recruitment of class II HDACs by MEF2 is not well understood. Here, we have characterized the complex between the MEF2-binding motif of class II HDACs and the MADS-box/MEF2S domain of MEF2B by structural and biochemical methods. The crystal structure of a HDAC9/MEF2/DNA complex reveals that HDAC9 binds to a hydrophobic groove of the MEF2 dimer. The overall binding mode is similar to that seen in the Cabin1/MEF2/DNA complex. The detailed binding interactions at the HDAC9/MEF2 interface, however, show marked differences from those at the Cabin1/MEF2 interface. Our studies suggest a general mechanism by which class II HDACs and possibly other transcriptional co-regulators are recruited by MEF2. On the other hand, the differential binding between MEF2 and its various partners may confer specific regulatory and functional properties to MEF2 in distinct cellular processes. Such specificity provides a basis for selectively disrupting a particular MEF2/co-regulator complex by mutations or small molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0215, USA.
authors.forename: Aidong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Ju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yongqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jun O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000378:metabolism; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C491861:CABIN1 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; C578038:MEF2B protein, human; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA; D019703:Calcineurin; C400300:HDAC4 protein, human; C486544:HDAC9 protein, human; D006655:Histone Deacetylases