Barrier-to-Autointegration Factor influences specific histone modifications

Nucleus. 2011 Nov-Dec;2(6):580-90. doi: 10.4161/nucl.2.6.17960. Epub 2011 Nov 1.

Abstract

Defects in the nuclear envelope or nuclear 'lamina' networks cause disease and can perturb histone posttranslational (epigenetic) regulation. Barrier-to-Autointegration Factor (BAF) is an essential but enigmatic lamina component that binds lamins, LEM-domain proteins, DNA and histone H3 directly. We report that BAF copurified with nuclease-digested mononucleosomes and associated with modified histones in vivo. BAF overexpression significantly reduced global histone H3 acetylation by 18%. In cells that stably overexpressed BAF 3-fold, silencing mark H3-K27-Me1/3 and active marks H4-K16-Ac and H4-Ac5 decreased significantly. Significant increases were also seen for silencing mark H3-K9-Me3, active marks H3-K4-Me2, H3-K9/K14-Ac and H4-K5-Ac and a mark (H3-K79-Me2) associated with both active and silent chromatin. Other increases (H3-S10-P, H3-S28-P and silencing mark H3-K9-Me2) did not reach statistical significance. BAF overexpression also significantly influenced cell cycle distribution. Moreover, BAF associated in vivo with SET/I2PP2A (protein phosphatase 2A inhibitor; blocks H3 dephosphorylation) and G9a (H3-K9 methyltransferase), but showed no detectable association with HDAC1 or HATs. These findings reveal BAF as a novel epigenetic regulator and are discussed in relation to BAF deficiency phenotypes, which include a hereditary progeria syndrome and loss of pluripotency in embryonic stem cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Histone Chaperones / genetics
  • Histone Chaperones / metabolism
  • Histone Deacetylase 1 / genetics
  • Histone Deacetylase 1 / metabolism
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lamins / genetics
  • Lamins / metabolism
  • Nuclear Lamina / genetics
  • Nuclear Lamina / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Progeria / genetics
  • Progeria / metabolism*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Xenopus laevis

Substances

  • BANF1 protein, human
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Histone Chaperones
  • Histones
  • Lamins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • SET protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • HDAC1 protein, human
  • Histone Deacetylase 1