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SET-domain proteins of the Su(var)3-9, E(z) and trithorax families.

SET-domain (SET: Su(var)3-9, E(z) and Trithorax)-containing proteins were collected through sequence searches of the available databases. After removing redundancies, the proteins belonging to three families, SU(VAR)3-9, E(Z) and Trithorax, were selected. Analysis of the relationship between the different members is based on pairwise alignment, compilation, and comparison of their SET-domains. The level of homology of the SET-domains defined the distribution of the proteins into families and into clades within the families. The architecture of the entire protein supported the distribution pattern built upon SET-domain similarity. Parallel cladistic and protein-architecture analyses outlined two plausible criteria for predicting function.

Animals↗

Drosophila Enhancer of zeste protein interacts with dSAP18.

The Drosophila Enhancer of zeste [E(z)] gene encodes a member of the Polycomb group of transcriptional repressors. Here we report evidence for direct physical interaction between E(Z) and dSAP18, which previously has been shown to interact with Drosophila GAGA factor and BICOID proteins. dSAP18 shares extensive sequence similarity with a human polypeptide originally identified as a subunit of the SIN3A-HDAC (switch-independent 3-histone deacetylase) co-repressor complex. Yeast two-hybrid and in vitro binding assays demonstrate direct E(Z)-dSAP18 interaction and show that dSAP18 is capable of interacting with itself. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments provide evidence for in vivo association of E(Z) and dSAP18. Gel filtration analysis of embryo nuclear extracts shows that dSAP18 is present in native protein complexes ranging from approximately 1100 to approximately 450 kDa in molecular mass. These studies provide support for a model in which dSAP18 contributes to the activities of multiple protein complexes, and potentially may mediate interactions between distinct proteins and/or protein complexes.

Animals↗

Impaired differentiation of fetal hepatocytes in homozygous jumonji mice.

Homozygous jumonji (jmj(-)/jmj(-)) mice were previously shown to exhibit hepatic hypoplasia and defective hematopoiesis in the liver and die at around embryonic day 15.5 (E15.5), suggesting that jmj is essential for liver development. In order to gain insight into the mechanism of liver development, we analyzed the expression and function of jmj in fetal hepatocytes. The number of hepatocytes in jmj(-)/jmj(-) mice was markedly reduced in comparison with control mice and the expression of jmj in hepatocytes increased along with development. As jmj(-)/jmj(-) embryos die by E15.5, we employed an in vitro culture system in which fetal hepatocytes differentiate in response to oncostatin M. The proliferation potential of jmj(-)/jmj(-) hepatocytes was comparable to that of wild type cells in vitro, however maturation of hepatocytes as evidenced by the expression of liver enzymes such as tyrosine amino transferase was severely impaired by the jmj gene inactivation. These results suggested that jmj plays a pivotal role in the development of mid-fetal hepatocytes to the neonatal stage.

Animals↗

Molecular and genetic analysis of the Polycomb group gene Sex combs extra/Ring in Drosophila.

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins repress homeotic genes and other developmental regulatory genes in cells where these genes must remain inactive during development. In Drosophila and in vertebrates, PcG proteins exist in two distinct multiprotein complexes, the Esc/Eed-E(z) complex and PRC1. Drosophila PRC1 contains Polycomb, Posterior sexcombs and Polyhomeotic, the products of three PcG genes that are critically needed for PcG silencing. Formation of stable PRC1 requires Ring, the product of a gene for which no mutations have been described. Here, we show that Sex combs extra (Sce) encodes Ring and that Sce/Ring function is critically required for PcG silencing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Organogenesis of the liver, thymus and spleen is affected in jumonji mutant mice.

The recessive mutant mouse jumonji (jmj), obtained by a gene trap strategy, shows neural tube defects in approximately half of homozygotes with a Balb/cA and 129/Ola mixed background. Here, we show that no neural tube defects are observed with a Balb/cA background. We also found hypoplasia of the liver, thymus and spleen with full penetrance with a Balb/cA background. In the livers of homozygous embryos we found excessive cell death in the peripheral region. In both the thymus and spleen, the accumulation of hematopoietic cells is affected in mutant embryos. These phenotypes were also observed with C57BL/6J and DBA/2J backgrounds, suggesting that the jmj gene plays an essential role in the organogenesis of these tissues.

Animals↗

jumonji gene is essential for the neurulation and cardiac development of mouse embryos with a C3H/He background.

The recessive mutant mouse jumonji (jmj), obtained by a gene trap strategy, shows neural tube defects in approximately half of homozygous embryos with a BALB/cA and 129/Ola mixed background, but no neural tube defects with BALB/cA, C57BL/6J, and DBA/2J backgrounds. Here, we show that neural tube and cardiac defects are observed in all embryos with a C3H/HeJ background. In addition, abnormal groove formation and prominent flexure are observed on the neural plate with full penetrance, suggesting that abnormal groove formation leads to neural tube defects. We found morphogenetic abnormalities in the bulbus cordis (future outflow tract and the right ventricle) of homozygous embryo hearts. Moreover, myocytes in the ventricular trabeculae show hyperplasia with cells filling the ventricles. Together with the observation that the jmj gene is expressed in the neural epithelium of the head neural plate and in myocytes in the bulbus cordis and trabeculae, the results show that the jmj gene plays essential roles in the normal development of the neural plate, morphogenesis of bulbus cordis, and proliferation of trabecular myocytes on a C3H/He background.

Animals↗

HIV-1 Nef mimics an integrin receptor signal that recruits the polycomb group protein Eed to the plasma membrane.

The Nef protein of human and simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV/SIV) is believed to interfere with T cell activation signals by forming a signaling complex at the plasma membrane. Composition and function of the complex are not fully understood. Here we report that Nef recruits the Polycomb Group (PcG) protein Eed, so far known as a nuclear factor and repressor of transcription, to the membrane of cells. The Nef-induced translocation of Eed led to a potent stimulation of Tat-dependent HIV transcription, implying that Eed removal from the nucleus is required for optimal Tat function. Similar to Nef action, activation of integrin receptors recruited Eed to the plasma membrane, also leading to enhanced Tat/Nef-mediated transcription. Our results suggest a link between membrane-associated activation processes and transcriptional derepression and demonstrate how HIV exploits this mechanism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

jumonji downregulates cardiac cell proliferation by repressing cyclin D1 expression.

Spatiotemporal regulation of cell proliferation is necessary for normal tissue development. The molecular mechanisms, especially the signaling pathways controlling the cell cycle machinery, remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate a negative relationship between the spatiotemporal patterns of jumonji (jmj) expression and cardiac myocyte proliferation. cyclin D1 expression and cell proliferation are enhanced in the cardiac myocytes of jmj-deficient mutant embryos. In contrast, jmj overexpression represses cyclin D1 expression in cardiac cells, and Jmj protein binds to cyclin D1 promoter in vivo and represses its transcriptional activity. cyclin D1 overexpression causes hyperproliferation in the cardiac myocytes, but the absence of cyclin D1 in jmj mutant embryos rescues the hyperproliferation. Therefore, Jmj might control cardiac myocyte proliferation and consequently cardiac morphogenesis by repressing cyclin D1 expression.

Animals↗

Positional cloning of a global regulator of anterior-posterior patterning in mice.

Anterior-posterior (A-P) patterning is of fundamental importance throughout vertebrate embryonic development. Murine members of the trithorax (trx) and Polycomb group (Pc-G) of genes regulate A-P patterning of segmented axial structures, demonstrating conserved upstream regulation of homeotic pathways between Drosophila and mouse. Here we report the positional cloning of a classical mouse mutation, eed (for embryonic ectoderm development), which is the highly conserved homologue of the Drosophila Pc-G gene esc (for extra sex combs), a long-term repressor of homeotic genes. Mutants homozygous for a null allele of eed display disrupted A-P patterning of the primitive streak during gastrulation. Mutant embryos lack a node, notochord and somites, and there is no neural induction. In contrast to absence of anterior structures, extra-embryonic mesoderm is abundant. Mice carrying a hypomorphic eed mutation exhibit posterior transformations along the axial skeleton. These results indicate that eed is required globally for A-P patterning throughout embryogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A Polycomb-group gene regulates homeotic gene expression in Arabidopsis.

Cell fate is determined when the commitment of cells to a particular fate is autonomously maintained, irrespective of their environment. In Drosophila, fate determination is maintained through the action of the Polycomb-group and trithorax-group genes, which are required so that states of homeotic gene activity are inherited through cell division. It is shown here that the CURLY LEAF gene of Arabidopsis is necessary for stable repression of a floral homeotic gene and encodes a protein with homology to the product of the Polycomb-group gene Enhancer of zeste. We suggest that Polycomb-group genes have a similar role in fate determination in plants and animals.

AGAMOUS Protein, Arabidopsis↗

Chromatin signatures of pluripotent cell lines.

Epigenetic genome modifications are thought to be important for specifying the lineage and developmental stage of cells within a multicellular organism. Here, we show that the epigenetic profile of pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ES) is distinct from that of embryonic carcinoma cells, haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and their differentiated progeny. Silent, lineage-specific genes replicated earlier in pluripotent cells than in tissue-specific stem cells or differentiated cells and had unexpectedly high levels of acetylated H3K9 and methylated H3K4. Unusually, in ES cells these markers of open chromatin were also combined with H3K27 trimethylation at some non-expressed genes. Thus, pluripotency of ES cells is characterized by a specific epigenetic profile where lineage-specific genes may be accessible but, if so, carry repressive H3K27 trimethylation modifications. H3K27 methylation is functionally important for preventing expression of these genes in ES cells as premature expression occurs in embryonic ectoderm development (Eed)-deficient ES cells. Our data suggest that lineage-specific genes are primed for expression in ES cells but are held in check by opposing chromatin modifications.

Animals↗

Genome imprinting regulated by the mouse Polycomb group protein Eed.

Epigenetic regulation is essential for temporal, tissue-specific and parent-of-origin-dependent gene expression. It has recently been found that the mouse Polycomb group (PcG) gene Eed (embryonic ectoderm development) acts to maintain repression of the imprinted X chromosome. Here, we investigated whether Eed is also required for regulation of autosomal imprinted loci. Expression analyses showed that transcripts from the silent alleles of a subset of paternally repressed genes were present in Eed(-/-) embryos. Parent-of-origin methylation was preserved in these embryos, but we observed changes in the methylation status of specific CpGs in differentially methylated regions (DMRs) at affected but not at unaffected loci. These data identify Eed as a member of a new class of trans-acting factors that regulate parent-of-origin expression at imprinted loci.

Alleles↗

Genome-wide profiling of PRC1 and PRC2 Polycomb chromatin binding in Drosophila melanogaster.

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins maintain transcriptional repression of developmentally important genes and have been implicated in cell proliferation and stem cell self-renewal. We used a genome-wide approach to map binding patterns of PcG proteins (Pc, esc and Sce) in Drosophila melanogaster Kc cells. We found that Pc associates with large genomic regions of up to approximately 150 kb in size, hereafter referred to as 'Pc domains'. Sce and esc accompany Pc in most of these domains. PcG-bound chromatin is trimethylated at histone H3 Lys27 and is generally transcriptionally silent. Furthermore, PcG proteins preferentially bind to developmental genes. Many of these encode transcriptional regulators and key components of signal transduction pathways, including Wingless, Hedgehog, Notch and Delta. We also identify several new putative functions of PcG proteins, such as in steroid hormone biosynthesis. These results highlight the extensive involvement of PcG proteins in the coordination of development through the formation of large repressive chromatin domains.

Animals↗

The human EZH2 gene: genomic organisation and revised mapping in 7q35 within the critical region for malignant myeloid disorders.

The EZH2 gene is a homolog of the Drosophila Polycomb group (PcG) gene enhancer of zest, a crucial regulator of homeotic gene expression. Several lines of evidence suggest a critical role for the EZH2 protein during normal and perturbed development of the haematopoietic and central nervous systems. Indeed, the EZH2 protein has been shown to associate with the Vav proto-oncoprotein and with the XNP protein, the product of a mental retardation gene. The EZH2 gene was previously reported to be located on chromosome 21q22 and was proposed as a candidate gene for some characteristics of the Down syndrome phenotype. We report here the genomic structure and fine mapping of the EZH2 gene. We demonstrate that the functional gene actually maps to chromosome 7q35 and that the sequence previously isolated from a chromosome 21 cosmid corresponds to a pseudogene. Finally, the nature of the EZH2 protein and its mapping to the critical region for malignant myeloid disorders lead us to propose the EZH2 gene is involved in the pathogenesis of 7q35-q36 aberrations in myeloid leukaemia.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Polycomb-group gene eed regulates thymocyte differentiation and suppresses the development of carcinogen-induced T-cell lymphomas.

The mouse Polycomb-group gene, embryonic ectoderm development (eed), appears to regulate cellular growth and differentiation in a developmental and tissue specific manner. During embryogenesis, eed regulates axial patterning, whereas in the adult eed represses proliferation of myeloid and B cell precursors. The present report demonstrates two novel functional activities of eed: alteration of thymocyte maturation and suppression of thymic lymphoma development. Mice that inherit the viable hypomorphic 17Rn5(1989SB) eed allele sustain a partial developmental block at or before the CD4(-)CD8(-)CD44(-)CD25(+) stage of thymocyte differentiation. Furthermore, mice that are homozygous or heterozygous for the hypomorphic eed allele have an increased incidence and decreased latency of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced thymic lymphoma compared to wild-type littermates. These findings support the notion that Polycomb-group genes exert pleiotropic effects dictated by developmental stage and cellular context.

Animals↗