title: Cryptic RNA-binding by PRC2 components EZH2 and SUZ12.
abstract: Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is a histone-modifying complex that di/tri-methylates histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27), a mark of transcriptionally repressed chromatin. However, how PRC2 is specifically recruited to its target loci remains controversial, although it has been postulated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can function as guides. Here we purified individual components of PRC2 from human cultured cells and found that EZH2 and SUZ12 can directly bind to RNAs. In agreement with recent evidence, our results support the notion that these two PRC2 subunits have RNA-binding activity, with general preference for longer RNAs. However, the length alone does not explain their cryptic substrate preference. Our data highlight the difficulty of characterizing the RNA-binding activity of PRC2.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences; The University of Tokyo ; Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo , Japan.|b Department of Medical Genome Sciences ; The University of Tokyo ; Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo , Japan.|c Present affiliation: Laboratory for Developmental Genetics; RIKEN-IMS ; Tsurumi-ku; Yokohama , Kanagawa , Japan.
authors.forename: Juan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Betancur
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences; The University of Tokyo ; Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo , Japan.|b Department of Medical Genome Sciences ; The University of Tokyo ; Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Yukihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomari
mesh_terms: D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C430461:SUZ12 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012313:RNA; C498409:EZH2 protein, human; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2
keywords: EZH2; HOTAIR; PRC2; SUZ12; Xist; lncRNA