Human HDAC7 harbors a class IIa histone deacetylase-specific zinc binding motif and cryptic deacetylase activity.
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are protein deacetylases that play a role in repression of gene transcription and are emerging targets in cancer therapy. Here, we characterize the structure and enzymatic activity of the catalytic domain of human HDAC7 (cdHDAC7). Although HDAC7 normally exists as part of a multiprotein complex, we show that cdHDAC7 has a low level of deacetylase activity which can be inhibited by known HDAC inhibitors. The crystal structures of human cdHDAC7 and its complexes with two hydroxamate inhibitors are the first structures of the catalytic domain of class IIa HDACs and demonstrate significant differences with previously reported class I and class IIb-like HDAC structures. We show that cdHDAC7 has an additional class IIa HDAC-specific zinc binding motif adjacent to the active site which is likely to participate in substrate recognition and protein-protein interaction and may provide a site for modulation of activity. Furthermore, a different active site topology results in modified catalytic properties and in an enlarged active site pocket. Our studies provide mechanistic insights into class IIa HDACs and facilitate the design of specific modulators.
Schuetz
Anja
A
Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L5, Canada.
Min
Jinrong
J
Allali-Hassani
Abdellah
A
Schapira
Matthieu
M
Shuen
Michael
M
Loppnau
Peter
P
Mazitschek
Ralph
R
Kwiatkowski
Nick P
NP
Lewis
Timothy A
TA
Maglathin
Rebecca L
RL
McLean
Thomas H
TH
Bochkarev
Alexey
A
Plotnikov
Alexander N
AN
Vedadi
Masoud
M
Arrowsmith
Cheryl H
CH
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D001665:Binding Sites; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008024:Ligands; D008954:Models, Biological; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry
D008024:Ligands; C543273:HDAC7 protein, human; D006655:Histone Deacetylases; D015032:Zinc