Enhanced autophagic clearance of amyloid-βvia histone deacetylase 6-mediated V-ATPase assembly and lysosomal acidification protects against Alzheimer's disease in vitro and in vivo

Recent studies have suggested that abnormal acidification of lysosomes induces autophagic accumulation of amyloid-βin neurons,which is a key step in senile plaque formation.Therefore,resto ring normal lysosomal function and rebalancing lysosomal acidification in neurons in the brain may be a new treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease.Microtubule acetylation/deacetylation plays a central role in lysosomal acidification.Here,we show that inhibiting the classic microtubule deacetylase histone deacetylase 6 with an histone deacetylase 6 shRNA or thehistone deacetylase 6 inhibitor valproic acid promoted lysosomal reacidification by modulating V-ATPase assembly in Alzheimer's disease.Fu rthermore,we found that treatment with valproic acid markedly enhanced autophagy.promoted clearance of amyloid-βaggregates,and ameliorated cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.Our findings demonstrate a previously unknown neuroprotective mechanism in Alzheimer's disease,in which histone deacetylase 6 inhibition by valproic acid increases V-ATPase assembly and lysosomal acidification.

Histone Acetyltransferase GCN5 Regulates Rice Growth and Development and Enhances Salt Tolerance

Histone acetylation is indispensable in the process of crops resisting abiotic stress,which is jointly catalyzed by histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases.However,the mechanism of regulating salt tolerance through histone acetyltransferase GCN5 is still unclear.We revealed that GCN5 can catalyze the acetylation of canonical H3 and H4 lysine residues both in vivo and in vitro in rice.The knockout mutants and RNA interference lines of Os GCN5 exhibited severe growth inhibition and defects in salt tolerance,while the over-expression of Os GCN5 enhanced the salt tolerance of rice seedlings,indicating that Os GCN5 positively regulated the response of rice to salt stress.RNA-seq analysis suggested Os GCN5 may positively regulate the salt tolerance of rice by inhibiting the expression of Os HKT2;1 or other salt-responsive genes.Taken together,our study indicated that GCN5 plays a key role in enhancing salt tolerance in rice.

Unraveling the relationship between histone methylation and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)poses a significant health challenge in modern societies due to shifts in lifestyle and dietary habits.Its complexity stems from genetic predisposition,environmental influences,and metabolic factors.Epigenetic processes govern various cellular functions such as transcription,chromatin structure,and cell division.In NAFLD,these epigenetic tendencies,especially the process of histone methylation,are intricately intertwined with fat accumulation in the liver.Histone methylation is regulated by different enzymes like methyltransferases and demethylases and influences the expression of genes related to adipogenesis.While early-stage NAFLD is reversible,its progression to severe stages becomes almost irreversible.Therefore,early detection and intervention in NAFLD are crucial,and understanding the precise role of histone methylation in the early stages of NAFLD could be vital in halting or potentially reversing the progression of this disease.

栽培四倍体棉种及其二倍体祖先种的Histone3基因片段序列分析

组蛋白是植物基因组的重要组成部分。根据Genebank中登录的Histone3基因的全长cD NA序列,设计PCR引物,进行了异源四倍体栽培陆地棉、海岛棉及其二倍体祖先种非洲棉和雷蒙德氏棉中Histone3基因片段序列分析。不同物种中获得的基因片段分别由2个内含子、部分外显子区和3'端非翻译区组成。共存在77个单核苷酸多态性位点,其中外显子区9个,内含子Ⅰ区22个,内含子Ⅱ区21个,3'端非翻译区25个。外显子的SNP变化不影响Histone3基因的转录和翻译。分子聚类结果表明,不同物种A、D基因组的序列定向进化同源性明显,其中AvsD序列相似性为91.6%,AvsATB序列相似性为95.8%,AvsATH序列相似性为95.2%,DvsDTB序列相似性为98.5%,DvsDTH序列相似性为98.0%。A、D染色体组基因序列部分同源性分析表明,陆地棉中ATHvsDTH序列相似性为91.0%,海岛棉中ATBvsDTB序列相似性为92.5%。聚类结果再现了A、D基因组多倍体化后其基因序列与二倍体祖先种平行演化的特点以及A、D染色体组间进化速率在四倍体棉种中与二倍体祖先种中表现的一致性。本文也讨论了基因序列在不同物种中的相似性比较不仅是研究进化的有效方法,也可用于发现基因在不同物种中SNP序列及应用前景。

Epigenetic regulation of the inflammatory response in stroke

Stroke is classified as ischemic or hemorrhagic,and there are few effective treatments for either type.Immunologic mechanisms play a critical role in secondary brain injury following a stroke,which manifests as cytokine release,blood–brain barrier disruption,neuronal cell death,and ultimately behavioral impairment.Suppressing the inflammatory response has been shown to mitigate this cascade of events in experimental stroke models.However,in clinical trials of anti-inflammatory agents,longterm immunosuppression has not demonstrated significant clinical benefits for patients.This may be attributable to the dichotomous roles of inflammation in both tissue injury and repair,as well as the complex pathophysiologic inflammatory processes in stroke.Inhibiting acute harmful inflammatory responses or inducing a phenotypic shift from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory state at specific time points after a stroke are alternative and promising therapeutic strategies.Identifying agents that can modulate inflammation requires a detailed understanding of the inflammatory processes of stroke.Furthermore,epigenetic reprogramming plays a crucial role in modulating post-stroke inflammation and can potentially be exploited for stroke management.In this review,we summarize current findings on the epigenetic regulation of the inflammatory response in stroke,focusing on key signaling pathways including nuclear factor-kappa B,Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription,and mitogen-activated protein kinase as well as inflammasome activation.We also discuss promising molecular targets for stroke treatment.The evidence to date indicates that therapeutic targeting of the epigenetic regulation of inflammation can shift the balance from inflammation-induced tissue injury to repair following stroke,leading to improved post-stroke outcomes.

Targeting epigenetic mechanisms in amyloid-β-mediated Alzheimer’s pathophysiology:unveiling therapeutic potential

Alzheimer’s disease is a prominent chronic neurodegenerative condition characterized by a gradual decline in memory leading to dementia.Growing evidence suggests that Alzheimer’s disease is associated with accumulating various amyloid-βoligomers in the brain,influenced by complex genetic and environmental factors.The memory and cognitive deficits observed during the prodromal and mild cognitive impairment phases of Alzheimer’s disease are believed to primarily result from synaptic dysfunction.Throughout life,environmental factors can lead to enduring changes in gene expression and the emergence of brain disorders.These changes,known as epigenetic modifications,also play a crucial role in regulating the formation of synapses and their adaptability in response to neuronal activity.In this context,we highlight recent advances in understanding the roles played by key components of the epigenetic machinery,specifically DNA methylation,histone modification,and microRNAs,in the development of Alzheimer’s disease,synaptic function,and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity.Moreover,we explore various strategies,including enriched environments,exposure to non-invasive brain stimulation,and the use of pharmacological agents,aimed at improving synaptic function and enhancing long-term potentiation,a process integral to epigenetic mechanisms.Lastly,we deliberate on the development of effective epigenetic agents and safe therapeutic approaches for managing Alzheimer’s disease.We suggest that addressing Alzheimer’s disease may require distinct tailored epigenetic drugs targeting different disease stages or pathways rather than relying on a single drug.

Interaction Study between DNA and Histone Proteins on Single-molecule Level using Atomic Force Microscopy

DNA and histone protein are important in the formation of nucleosomal arrays, which are the first packaging level of DNA into a more compact chromatin structure. To characterize the interactions of DNA and histone proteins, we reconstitute nucleosomes using lambda DNA and whole histone proteins by dialysis and perform direct atomic force microscopy （AFM） imaging. Compared with non-specific DNA and histone binding, nucleosomes are formed within the assembled “beads-on-a-string” nucleosomal array by dialysis. These observations facilitate the establishment of the molecular mechanisms of nucleosome and demonstrate the capability of AFM for protein-DNA interaction analysis.

Bioinformatics Analysis on Histone H3-lys-4 Methyltransferase MLL3

[Objective] This study aimed to conduct bioinformatics analysis of histone H3-1ys-4 （H3K4） methyltransferase MLL3 in animals, thus exploring its relatively conservative evolution to reveal the role of histon H3K4 trimethyltransferase MLL3 in human cancers. [Method] By using bioinformatics method, gene structure, amino acid sequences, phylogenetic tree, chromosomal localization and synteny of mouse MLL3 were analyzed. [Result] Primary structure of the encoded mouse MLL3 protein con- tained seven zinc finger domains, an HMG-box （High mobility group-box protein）, a FYRN （F/Y-rich N-terminus） domain, a FYRC （F/Yrich C-terminus） domain, a SET domain and a postSET domain. Results of sequence comparison and homology showed that 19 animal species in this study all had these structures basically, which indicated that these structures were relatively conserved in the evolution; specifically, the SET domain was highly conserved and was necessary to maintain the activity of histone methyltransferases. Results of phylogenetic analysis showed that the loca- tions of the 19 animal species in evolutionary tree were consistent with the taxo- nomic status. Results of synteny analysis showed that there were the same gene in the upstream and downstream of the mouse and human MLL3 gene which were located on different chromosomes, indicating that the mouse and human MLL3 gene had collinearity. [Conclusion] This study had revealed the primary structure of MLL3 nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence, which had not only laid the foundation for the future research of high-level structure and function of MLL3 protein but also provided the basis for the follow-up study of primer design, promoter analysis, gene cloning and regulation patterns of localization and expression of mouse MLL3 gene.

Localization of Phosphorylated Histone H3 at Mitosis and Meiosis in Wheat

One of the prominent cell cycle related modifications of histone proteins, whose function is correlated with chromosome condensation, is the phosphorylation of histone H3. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) mitotic and meiotic cells were analyzed with indirect immunoflurorescence labeling with an antibody recognizing histone H3 phosphorylated at Serine 10 to study the localization of phosphorylated histone H3 at mitosis and meiosis. Our results showed that, during mitotic division, the phosphoryiation of H3 started from early prophase and vanished at telophase, remaining mainly in the pericentromeric regions at metaphase and anaphase. During meiotic division, phosphorylation of H3 initiated at the transition from leptotene to zygotene and remained uniform, along the chromosomes from prophase I until telophase whereas it showed slightly stronger in the pericentromeric regions than along the chromosome arms from metaphase II until Lelophase II The different patterns of H3 phophorylation at mitosis and meiosis in wheat suggested that this evolutionarily conserved post-translational chromatin modification might be involved in more roles besides chromosome condensation.

HDACs,histone deacetylation and gene transcription: from molecular biology to cancer therapeutics

Histone deacetylases （HDACs） and histone acetyl transferases （HATs） are two counteracting enzyme families whose enzymatic activity controls the acetylation state of protein lysine residues, notably those contained in the N-terminal extensions of the core histones. Acetylation of histones affects gene expression through its influence on chromatin conformation. In addition, several non-histone proteins are regulated in their stability or biological function by the acetylation state of specific lysine residues. HDACs intervene in a multitude of biological processes and are part of a multiprotein family in which each member has its specialized functions. In addition, HDAC activity is tightly controlled through targeted recruitment, protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications. Control of cell cycle progression, cell survival and differentiation are among the most important roles of these enzymes. Since these processes are affected by malignant transformation, HDAC inhibitors were developed as antineoplastic drugs and are showing encouraging efficacy in cancer patients.

Re-expression of methylation-induced tumor suppressor gene silencing is associated with the state of histone modification in gastric cancer cell lines

AIM： To identify the relationship between DNA hyper- methylation and histone modification at a hyperme- thylated, silenced tumor suppressor gene promoter in human gastric cancer cell lines and to elucidate whether alteration of DNA methylation could affect histone modification. METHODS： We used chromatin immunoprecipitation （CHIP） assay to assess the status of histone acetylation and methylation in promoter regions of the p16 and rnutL homolog 1 （MLH1） genes in 2 gastric cancer cell lines, SGC-7901 and MGC-803. We used methylation- specific PCR （MSP） to evaluate the effect of 5-Aza-2＇- deoxycytidine （5-Aza-dC）, trichostatin A （TSA） or their combination treatment on DNA methylation status. We used RT-PCR to determine whether alterations of histone modification status after 5-Aza-dC and TSA treatment are reflected in gene expression. RESULTS： For thep16 and MLH1 genes in two cell lines, silenced loci associated with DNA hypermethylation were characterized by histone H3-K9 hypoacetylation and hypermethylation and histone H3-K4 hypomethylation. Treatment with TSA resulted in moderately increased histone H3-K9 acetylation at the silenced loci with no effect on histone H3-K9 methylation and minimal effects on gene expression. In contrast, treatment with 5-Aza- dC rapidly reduced histone H3-K9 methylation at the silenced loci and resulted in reactivation of the two genes. Combined treatment with 5-Aza-dC and TSA was synergistic in reactivating gene expression at the loci showing DNA hypermethylation. Similarly, histone H3-K4 methylation was not affected alter TSA treatment, andincreased moderately at the silenced loci after 5-Aza-dC treatment. CONCLUSION： Hypermethylation of DNA in promoter CpG islands is related to transcriptional silencing of tumor suppressor genes. Histone H3-K9 methylation in different regions of the promoters studied correlates with DNA methylation status of each gene in gastric cancer cells. However, histone H3-K9 acetylation and H3-K4 methylation inversely correlate with DNA methylation status of each gene in gastric cancer cells. Alteration of DNA methylation affects histone modification.

JMJD3 is a histone H3K27 demethylase

Histone methylation is an important epigenetic phenomenon that participates in a diverse array of cellular processes and has been found to be associated with cancer. Recent identification of several histone demethylases has proved that histone methylation is a reversible process. Through a candidate approach, we have biochemically identified JMJD3 as an H3K27 demethylase. Transfection of JMJD3 into HeLa cells caused a specific reduction oftrimethyl H3K27, but had no effect on di-and monomethyl H3K27, or histone lysine methylations on H3K4 and H3K9. The enzymatic activity requires the JmjC domain and the conserved histidine that has been suggested to be important for a cofactor binding. In vitro biochemical experiments demonstrated that JMJD3 directly catalyzes the demethylation. In addition, we found that JMJD3 is upregulated in prostate cancer, and its expression is higher in metastatic prostate cancer. Thus, we identified JMJD3 as a demethylase capable of removing the trimethyl group from histone H3 lysine 27 and upregulated in prostate cancer.

Histone methyltransferases and demethylases:regulators in balancing osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） are characterized by their self-renewing capacity and differentiation potential into multiple tissues. Thus, management of the differentiation capacities of MSCs is important for MSC-based regenerative medicine, such as craniofacial bone regeneration, and in new treatments for metabolic bone diseases, such as osteoporosis. In recent years, histone modification has been a growing topic in the field of MSC lineage specification, in which the Su（var）3-9, enhancer-of-zeste, trithorax （SET） domain-containing family and the Jumonji C （JmjC） domain-containing family represent the major histone lysine methyltransferases （KMTs） and histone lysine demethylases （KDMs）, respectively. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms by which SET domain-containine KMTs and JmiC domain-containinlz KDMs balance the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of MSCs.

Effects of histone acetylation and DNA methylation on p21^(WAF1)regulation

Cell cycle progression is regulated by interactions between cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). p21(WAF1) is one of the CIP/KIP family which inhibits CDKs activity. Increased expression of p21(WAF1) may play an important role in the growth arrest induced in transformed cells. Although the stability of the p21( WAF1) mRNA could be altered by different signals, cell differentiation and numerous influencing factors. However, recent studies suggest that two known mechanisms of epigenesis, i.e.gene inactivation by methylation in promoter region and changes to an inactive chromatin by histone deacetylation, seem to be the best candidate mechanisms for inactivation of p21( WAF1). To date, almost no coding region p21(WAF1) mutations have been found in tumor cells, despite extensive screening of hundreds of various tumors. Hypermethylation of the p21(WAF1) promoter region may represent an alternative mechanism by which the p21(WAF1/CIP1) gene can be inactivated. The reduction of cellular DNMT protein levels also induces a corresponding rapid increase in the cell cycle regulator p21(WAF1) protein demonstrating a regulatory link between DNMT and p21(WAF1) which is independent of methylation of DNA. Both histone hyperacetylation and hypoacetylation appear to be important in the carcinoma process, and induction of the p21(WAF1) gene by histone hyperacetylation may be a mechanism by which dietary fiber prevents carcinogenesis. Here, we review the influence of histone acetylation and DNA methylation on p21(WAF1) transcription, and affection of pathways or factors associated such as p 53, E2A, Sp1 as well as several histone deacetylation inhibitors.

The X-linked mental retardation gene PHF8 is a histone demethylase involved in neuronal differentiation

Recent studies have identified mutations in PHF8, an X-linked gene encoding a JmjC domain-containing protein, as a causal factor for X-linked mental retardation （XLMR） and cleft lip/cleft palate. However, the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here we show that PHF8 is a histone demethylase and coactivator for retinoic acid receptor （RAR）. Although activities for both H3K4me3/2/1 and H3K9me2/1 demethylation were detected in cellularbased assays, reeombinant PHF8 exhibited only H3K9me2/1 demethylase activity in vitro, suggesting that PHF8 is an H3K9me2/1 demethylase whose specificity may be modulated in vivo. Importantly, a mutant PHF8 （phenylalanine at position 279 to serine） identified in the XLMR patients is defective in enzymatie activity, indicating that the loss of histone demethylase activity is causally linked with the onset of disease. In addition, we show that PHF8 binds specifically to H3K4me3/2 peptides via an N-terminal PHD finger domain. Consistent with a role for PHF8 in neuronal differentiation, knockdown of PHF8 in mouse embryonic carcinoma P19 cells impairs RA-induced neuronal differentiation, whereas overexpression of the wild-type but not the F279S mutant PHF8 drives PI9 cells toward neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, we show that PHF8 interacts with RAR~ and functions as a coactivator for RARa. Taken together, our results suggest that histone methylation modulated by PHF8 plays a critical role in neuronal differentiation.

Histone acetyltransferase GCN5 interferes with the miRNA pathway in Arabidopsis

MicroRNAs （miRNA） that guide sequence-specific posttranscriptional gene silencing play an important role in gene expression required for both developmental processes and responses to environmental conditions in plants. However, little is known about the transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of miRNA expression. Histone acetylation plays an important role in chromatin remodeling and is required for gene activation. By analyzing the accumulation of subset of miRNAs and the corresponding primary miRNAs in mutants of Arabidopsis, we show that histone acetyltransferase GCN5 （General control non-repressed protein 5） has a general repressive effect on miRNA production, while it is required for the expression of a subset of （e.g. stress-inducible） MIRNA genes. The general negative function of GCN5 in miRNA production is likely achieved through an indirect repression of the miRNA machinery genes such as DICER LIKE1 （DCL1）, SERRATE （SE）, HYPONASTIC LEAVES1 （HYL1） and ARGONAUTE1 （AGO1）. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that GCN5 targets to a subset of MIRNA genes and is required for acetylation of histone H3 lysine 14 at these loci. Moreover, inhibition of histone deacetylation by trichostatin A treatment or in histone deacetylase gene mutants impaired the accumulation of certain miRNAs. These data together suggest that Arabidopsis GCN5 interferes with the miRNA pathway at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels and histone acetylation/deacetylation is an epigenetic mechanism involved in the regulation of miRNA production.

DNA and histone methylation in gastric carcinogenesis

Epigenetic alterations contribute significantly to the development and progression of gastric cancer,one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide.Epigenetics refers to the number of modifications of the chromatin structure that affect gene expression without altering the primary sequence of DNA,and these changes lead to transcriptional activation or silencing of the gene.Over the years,the study of epigenetic processes has increased,and novel therapeutic approaches that target DNA methylation and histone modifications have emerged.A greater understanding of epigenetics and the therapeutic potential of manipulating these processes is necessary for gastric cancer treatment.Here,we review recent research on the effects of aberrant DNA and histone methylation on the onset and progression of gastric tumors and the development of compounds that target enzymes that regulate the epigenome.

Dual-specificity histone demethylase KIAA1718 （KDM7A） regulates neural differentiation through FGF4

Dimethylations of histone H3 lysine 9 and lysine 27 are important epigenetic marks associated with transcription repression. Here, we identified KIAA1718 （KDM7A） as a novel histone demethylase specific for these two repressing marks. Using mouse embryonic stem cells, we demonstrated that KIAA1718 expression increased at the early phase of neural differentiation. Knockdown of the gene blocked neural differentiation and the effect was rescued by the wild-type human gene, and not by a catalytically inactive mutant. In addition, overexpression of KIAA1718 accelerated neural differentiation. We provide the evidence that the pro-neural differentiation effect of KDM7A is mediated through direct transcriptional activation of FGF4, a signal molecule implicated in neural differentiation. Thus, our study identified a dual-specificity histone demethylase that regulates neural differentiation through FGF4.

Curcumin inhibits hepatitis B virus infection by downregulating ccc DNA-bound histone acetylation

AIM To investigate the potential effect of curcumin on hepatitis B virus(HBV) covalently closed circular DNA(ccc DNA) and the underlying mechanism.METHODS A Hep G2.2.15 cell line stably transfected with HBV was treated with curcumin, and HBV surface antigen(HBs Ag) and e antigen(HBe Ag) expression levels were assessed by ELISA. Intracellular HBV DNA replication intermediates and ccc DNA were detected by Southern blot and real-time PCR, respectively. The acetylation levels of histones H3 and H4 were measured by Western blot. H3/H4-bound ccc DNA was detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation(Ch IP) assays. The deacetylase inhibitors trichostatin A and sodium butyrate were used to study the mechanism of action for curcumin. Additionally, short interfering RNAs(si RNAs) targeting HBV were tested along with curcumin.RESULTS Curcumin treatment led to time-and dose-dependent reductions in HBs Ag and HBe Ag expression and significant reductions in intracellular HBV DNA replication intermediates and HBV ccc DNA. After treatment with 20 μmol/L curcumin for 2 d, HBs Ag and ccc DNA levels in Hep G2.2.15 cells were reduced by up to 57.7%(P < 0.01) and 75.5%(P < 0.01), respectively, compared with levels in non-treated cells. Meanwhile, time-and dose-dependent reductions in the histone H3 acetylation levels were also detected upon treatment with curcumin, accompanied by reductions in H3-and H4-bound ccc DNA. Furthermore, the deacetylase inhibitors trichostatin A and sodium butyrate could block the effects of curcumin. Additionally, transfection of si RNAs targeting HBV enhanced the inhibitory effects of curcumin.CONCLUSION Curcumin inhibits HBV gene replication via downregulation of ccc DNA-bound histone acetylation and has the potential to be developed as a ccc DNA-targeting antiviral agent for hepatitis B.

Current evidence for histone deacetylase inhibitors in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive human cancers,with more than 200 000 deaths worldwide every year.Despite recent efforts,conventional treatment approaches,such as surgery and classic chemotherapy,have only slightly improved patient outcomes.More effective and well-tolerated therapies are required to reverse the current poor prognosis of this type of neoplasm.Among new agents,histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) are now being tested.HDACIs have multiple biological effects related to acetylation of histones and many non-histone proteins that are involved in regulation of gene expression,apoptosis,cell cycle progression and angiogenesis.HDACIs induce cell cycle arrest and can activate the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis in different cancer cell lines.In the present review,the main mechanisms by which HDACIs act in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro,as well as their antiproliferative effects in animal models are presented.HDACIs constitute a promising treatment for pancreatic cancer with encouraging anti-tumor ef-fects,at well-tolerated doses.