Evidence for the existence of an HP1-mediated subcode within the histone code.
Currently, the mammalian heterochromatic proteins HP1alpha, HP1beta and the pan-nuclear HP1gamma are considered 'gatekeepers' of methyl-K9-H3-mediated silencing. Understanding how the binding of these proteins to post-translationally modified histones is switched on and off will further our knowledge of how the histone code is modulated. Here, we report that all three HP1 isoforms can be extensively modified, similar to histones, suggesting that the silencing of gene expression may be further regulated beyond the histone code. To assess the potential impact of these modifications, we analysed the phosphorylation of HP1gamma at Ser 83 as a 'model modification'. We demonstrate that P-Ser 83-HP1gamma has an exclusively euchromatic localization, interacts with Ku70 (a regulatory protein involved in multiple nuclear procesess), has impaired silencing activity and serves as a marker for transcription elongation. These observations predict that regulation of silencing by methyl-K9-H3 through modification of mammalian HP1 proteins may be more complex than previously thought and suggests the existence of an HP1-mediated 'silencing subcode' that underlies the instructions of the histone code.
Lomberk
Gwen
G
Gastroenterology Research Unit, Department of Medicine, and Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, MN 55605, USA.
Bensi
Debora
D
Fernandez-Zapico
Martín E
ME
Urrutia
Raul
R
D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D016466:CHO Cells; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D022041:Euchromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D020868:Gene Silencing; D042421:Histone Code; D000072200:Ku Autoantigen; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D022041:Euchromatin; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D000072200:Ku Autoantigen