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Reports
SET8 plays a role in controlling G1/S transition by blocking lysine acetylation in histone through binding to H4 N-terminal tail
Yinliang Yin, Vivian C. Yu, Guang Zhu and Donald C. Chang
volume 7 | issue 10
15 May 2008Pages: 1423 - 1432
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We report evidence suggesting that methyltransferase SET8 plays a novel role in regulating cell cycle by suppressing DNA replication through histone binding. First, the distribution of SET8 is strongly cell cycle-dependent. SET8 was concentrated in the nucleus during G1 and G2 phases, and was excluded from the nucleus during S phase. Second, at G1/S transition, SET8 was degraded through ubiquitination via SCF/Skp2. Third, it was evident that the SET8 binds to the H4 N-terminal tail (H4NT) and blocks the acetylation of lysine residues K5, K8 and K12 of histone H4 during G1. Such a blockage can hinder DNA replication. Fourth, SET8 binds to hypoacetylated but not hyperacetylated H4NT. Finally, overexpressing the histone-binding domain of SET8 appeared to suppress DNA replication and arrest the cell cycle before the G1/S transition. Taken together, these findings suggest that SET8 can be a negative regulator of DNA replication and the destruction of SET8 is required for the onset of S phase.
Authors
Yinliang Yin
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Hong Kong, China
Vivian C. Yu
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Hong Kong, China
Guang Zhu
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Hong Kong, China
Donald C. Chang
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Hong Kong, China