Myocyte enhancer factor 2 acetylation by p300 enhances its DNA binding activity, transcriptional activity, and myogenic differentiation.
Myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) family proteins are key transcription factors controlling gene expression in myocytes, lymphocytes, and neurons. MEF2 proteins are known to be regulated by phosphorylation. We now provide evidence showing that MEF2C is acetylated by p300 both in vitro and in vivo. In C2C12 myogenic cells, MEF2 is preferentially acetylated in differentiating myocytes but not in undifferentiated myoblasts. Several major acetylation sites are mapped to the transactivation domain of MEF2C, some of which are fully conserved in other MEF2 members from several different species. Mutation of these lysines affects MEF2 DNA binding and transcriptional activity, as well as its synergistic effect with myogenin in myogenic conversion assays. When introduced into C2C12 myoblasts, the nonacetylatable MEF2C inhibits myogenic differentiation. Thus, in addition to phosphorylation, MEF2 activity is also critically regulated by acetylation during myogenesis.
Ma
Kewei
K
Department of Biochemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
Chan
Jonathan K L
JK
Zhu
Guang
G
Wu
Zhenguo
Z
D000107:Acetylation; D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D006801:Humans; D008239:Lysine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D032446:Myoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018008:Myogenin / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D050880:p300-CBP Transcription Factors; D000099224:p300-CBP-Associated Factor
D000123:Acetyltransferases; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D008239:Lysine; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D018008:Myogenin; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014157:Transcription Factors; D050880:p300-CBP Transcription Factors; D000099224:p300-CBP-Associated Factor; C578040:MEF2C protein, human; C503799:MYOG protein, human