Histone H3 and H4 modification profiles in a Rett syndrome mouse model.
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that has been associated with mutations of methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2). MeCP2 acts as a transcriptional repressor and binds to histone modifier proteins, which prompted us to wonder whether MeCP2 disruption affects global histone modification patterns. Taking a two-fold approach of using high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) and western blot, we analyzed the acetylation and methylation status of histones H3 and H4 in a mouse model of RTT where the MeCP2 locus is genetically disrupted. The comparison of cortex, midbrain and cerebellum in wild-type and MeCP2-knock out mice did not reveal any significant difference in the global H3 and H4 histone modification patterns. Our results suggest that MeCP2 deficiency involves local and gene-specific chromatin changes rather than massive histone modification changes.
Urdinguio
Rocio G
RG
Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
Pino
Irene
I
Ropero
Santiago
S
Fraga
Mario F
MF
Esteller
Manel
M
D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*
D006657:Histones; C497393:Mecp2 protein, mouse; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2