title: The MeCP2/YY1 interaction regulates ANT1 expression at 4q35: novel hints for Rett syndrome pathogenesis.
abstract: Rett syndrome is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder mainly caused by mutations in the transcriptional regulator MeCP2. Although there is no effective therapy for Rett syndrome, the recently discovered disease reversibility in mice suggests that there are therapeutic possibilities. Identification of MeCP2 targets or modifiers of the phenotype can facilitate the design of curative strategies. To identify possible novel MeCP2 interactors, we exploited a bioinformatic approach and selected Ying Yang 1 (YY1) as an interesting candidate. We demonstrate that MeCP2 interacts in vitro and in vivo with YY1, a ubiquitous zinc-finger epigenetic factor regulating the expression of several genes. We show that MeCP2 cooperates with YY1 in repressing the ANT1 gene encoding a mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocase. Importantly, ANT1 mRNA levels are increased in human and mouse cell lines devoid of MeCP2, in Rett patient fibroblasts and in the brain of Mecp2-null mice. We further demonstrate that ANT1 protein levels are upregulated in Mecp2-null mice. Finally, the identified MeCP2-YY1 interaction, together with the well-known involvement of YY1 in the regulation of D4Z4-associated genes at 4q35, led us to discover the anomalous depression of FRG2, a subtelomeric gene of unknown function, in Rett fibroblasts. Collectively, our data indicate that mutations in MeCP2 might cause the aberrant overexpression of genes located at a specific locus, thus providing new candidates for the pathogenesis of Rett syndrome. As both ANT1 mutations and overexpression have been associated with human diseases, we consider it highly relevant to address the consequences of ANT1 deregulation in Rett syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetic and Epigenetic Control of Gene Expression, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Insubria, 21052 Busto Arsizio, VA, Italy.
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forlani
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giarda
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ala
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Cunto
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salani
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tupler
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kilstrup-Nielsen
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Landsberger
mesh_terms: D033741:Adenine Nucleotide Translocator 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D002894:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding; D034622:RNA Interference; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050986:YY1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D033741:Adenine Nucleotide Translocator 1; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2; D050986:YY1 Transcription Factor; C494698:YY1 protein, human