ASH2L regulates ubiquitylation signaling to MLL: Trans-Regulation of H3 K4 methylation in higher eukaryotes

Lipeng Wu, Shirley Y. Lee, Bo Zhou, Uyen T.T. Nguyen, Tom W. Muir, Song Tan, Yali Dou

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

Crosstalk between H2B ubiquitylation (H2Bub) and H3 K4 methylation plays important roles in coordinating functions of diverse cofactors during transcription activation. The underlying mechanism for this trans-tail signaling pathway is poorly defined in higher eukaryotes. Here, we show the following: (1) ASH2L in the MLL complex is essential for H2Bub-dependent H3 K4 methylation. Deleting or mutating K99 of the N-terminal winged helix (WH) motif in ASH2L abrogates H2Bub-dependent regulation. (2) Crosstalk can occur in trans and does not require ubiquitin to be on nucleosomes or histones to exert regulatory effects. (3) trans-regulation by ubiquitin promotes MLL activity for all three methylation states. (4) MLL3, an MLL homolog, does not respond to H2Bub, highlighting regulatory specificity for MLL family histone methyltransferases. Altogether, our results potentially expand the classic histone crosstalk to nonhistone proteins, which broadens the scope of chromatin regulation by ubiquitylation signaling.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1108-1120
Number of pages13
JournalMolecular Cell
Volume49
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 28 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'ASH2L regulates ubiquitylation signaling to MLL: Trans-Regulation of H3 K4 methylation in higher eukaryotes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this