Pygo2 associates with MLL2 histone methyltransferase and GCN5 histone acetyltransferase complexes to augment Wnt target gene expression and breast cancer stem-like cell expansion.

Resent studies have identified Pygopus as a core component of the β-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF)/lymphoid-enhancing factor 1 (LEF) transcriptional activation complex required for the expression of canonical Wg/Wnt target genes in Drosophila. However, the biochemical involvement of mammalian Pygopus proteins in β-catenin/TCF/LEF gene activation remains controversial. In this study, we perform ...
a series of molecular/biochemical experiments to demonstrate that Pygo2 associates with histone-modifying enzymatic complexes, specifically the MLL2 histone methyltransferase (HMT) and STAGA histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complexes, to facilitate their interaction with β-catenin and to augment Wnt1-induced, TCF/LEF-dependent transcriptional activation in breast cancer cells. We identify a critical domain in Pygo2 encompassing the first 47 amino acids that mediates its HMT/HAT interaction. We further demonstrate the importance of this domain in Pygo2's ability to transcriptionally activate both artificial and endogenous Wnt target genes and to expand breast cancer stem-like cells in culture. This work now links mechanistically Pygo2's role in histone modification to its enhancement of the Wnt-dependent transcriptional program and cancer stem-like cell expansion.
Mesh Terms:
Animals, Breast Neoplasms, Cell Line, Tumor, DNA-Binding Proteins, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, HEK293 Cells, Histones, Humans, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1, Neoplasm Proteins, Neoplastic Stem Cells, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc, RNA Interference, Wnt1 Protein, p300-CBP Transcription Factors
Mol. Cell. Biol.
Date: Dec. 01, 2010
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