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Preferential dimethylation of histone H4 lysine 20 by Suv4-20
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Preferential dimethylation of histone H4 lysine 20 by Suv4-20

Hongbo Yang, James J Pesavento, Taylor W Starnes, Diane E Cryderman, Lori L Wallrath, Neil L Kelleher and Craig A Mizzen
The Journal of biological chemistry, Vol.283(18), pp.12085-12092
05/02/2008
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M707974200
PMCID: PMC2335358
PMID: 18296440
url
https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M707974200View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Post-translational modifications of histone tails direct nuclear processes including transcription, DNA repair, and chromatin packaging. Lysine 20 of histone H4 is mono-, di-, or trimethylated in vivo, but the regulation and significance of these methylations is poorly understood. The SET domain proteins PR-Set7 and Suv4-20 have been implicated in mono- and trimethylation, respectively; however, enzymes that dimethylate lysine 20 have not been identified. Here we report that Drosophila Suv4-20 is a mixed product specificity methyltransferase that dimethylates approximately 90% and trimethylates less than 5% of total H4 at lysine 20 in S2 cells. Trimethylation, but not dimethylation, is reduced in Drosophila larvae lacking HP1, suggesting that an interaction with HP1 regulates the product specificity of Suv4-20 and enrichment of trimethyllysine 20 within heterochromatin. Similar to the Drosophila enzyme, human Suv4-20h1/h2 enzymes generate di- and trimethyllysine 20. PR-Set7 and Suv4-20 are both required for normal levels of methylation, suggesting they have non-redundant functions. Alterations in the level of lysine 20 methylation following knock-down or overexpression of Suv4-20 did not affect lysine 16 acetylation, revealing that these two modifications are not competitive in vivo. Depletion of Suv4-20h1/h2 in HeLa cells impaired the formation of 53BP1 foci, suggesting dimethyllysine 20 is required for a proper DNA damage response. Collectively, the data indicate that Suv4-20 generates nearly ubiquitous dimethylation that facilitates the DNA damage response and selective trimethylation that is involved in heterochromatin formation.
 Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone - metabolism Humans Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism Drosophila Proteins - chemistry Drosophila Proteins - metabolism DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases - metabolism Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase - chemistry Animals Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase - metabolism RNA Interference Mass Spectrometry Drosophila melanogaster - enzymology Lysine - metabolism DNA Damage HeLa Cells Histones - metabolism Tumor Suppressor p53-Binding Protein 1 Methylation RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism

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