Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Methyl-Lysine Readers PHF20 and PHF20L1 Define Two Distinct Gene Expression-Regulating NSL Complexes
Publication Date
3-1-2022
Journal
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Abstract
The methyl-lysine readers plant homeodomain finger protein 20 (PHF20) and its homolog PHF20-like protein 1 (PHF20L1) are known components of the nonspecific lethal (NSL) complex that regulates gene expression through its histone acetyltransferase activity. In the current model, both PHF homologs coexist in the same NSL complex, although this was not formally tested; nor have the functions of PHF20 and PHF20L1 regarding NSL complex integrity and transcriptional regulation been investigated. Here, we perform an in-depth biochemical and functional characterization of PHF20 and PHF20L1 in the context of the NSL complex. Using mass spectrometry, genome-wide chromatin analysis, and protein-domain mapping, we identify the existence of two distinct NSL complexes that exclusively contain either PHF20 or PHF20L1. We show that the C-terminal domains of PHF20 and PHF20L1 are essential for complex formation with NSL, and the Tudor 2 domains are required for chromatin binding. The genome-wide chromatin landscape of PHF20-PHF20L1 shows that these proteins bind mostly to the same genomic regions, at promoters of highly expressed/housekeeping genes. Yet, deletion of PHF20 and PHF20L1 does not abrogate gene expression or impact the recruitment of the NSL complex to those target gene promoters, suggesting the existence of an alternative mechanism that compensates for the transcription of genes whose sustained expression is important for critical cellular functions. This work shifts the current paradigm and lays the foundation for studies on the differential roles of PHF20 and PHF20L1 in regulating NSL complex activity in physiological and diseases states.
Keywords
Acetylation, Chromatin, Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone, DNA-Binding Proteins, Gene Expression Regulation, Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase, Histones, Homeodomain Proteins, Lysine, Transcription Factors, transcriptional regulation, epigenetics, histone acetylation, lysine methylation, housekeeping genes
DOI
10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101588
PMID
35033534
PMCID
PMC8867114
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
1-14-2022
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Included in
Bioinformatics Commons, Biomedical Informatics Commons, Medical Genetics Commons, Oncology Commons
