Quantitative dissection and stoichiometry determination of the human SET1/MLL histone methyltransferase complexes

Mol Cell Biol. 2013 May;33(10):2067-77. doi: 10.1128/MCB.01742-12. Epub 2013 Mar 18.

Abstract

Methylation of lysine 4 on histone H3 (H3K4) at promoters is tightly linked to transcriptional regulation in human cells. At least six different COMPASS-like multisubunit (SET1/MLL) complexes that contain methyltransferase activity for H3K4 have been described, but a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of these SET1/MLL complexes is lacking. We applied label-free quantitative mass spectrometry to determine the subunit composition and stoichiometry of the human SET1/MLL complexes. We identified both known and novel, unique and shared interactors and determined their distribution and stoichiometry over the different SET1/MLL complexes. In addition to being a core COMPASS subunit, the Dpy30 protein is a genuine subunit of the NURF chromatin remodeling complex. Furthermore, we identified the Bod1 protein as a discriminator between the SET1B and SET1A complexes, and we show that the H3K36me-interactor Psip1 preferentially binds to the MLL2 complex. Finally, absolute protein quantification in crude lysates mirrors many of the observed SET1/MLL complex stoichiometries. Our findings provide a molecular framework for understanding the diversity and abundance of the different SET1/MLL complexes, which together establish the H3K4 methylation landscape in human cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / isolation & purification
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / isolation & purification
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / isolation & purification
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / isolation & purification
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Protein Subunits / isolation & purification
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / isolation & purification
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • ASH2L protein, human
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Bod1 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • DPY30 protein, human
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • KMT2A protein, human
  • KMT2C protein, human
  • KMT2D protein, human
  • MEN1 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PSIP1 protein, human
  • Protein Subunits
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • RBBP5 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • WDR5 protein, human
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • MLL4 protein, human
  • Setd1A protein, human