Dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 （H3K9me2） is an important epigenetic mark associated with transcription repression. Here, we identified PHF8, a JmjC-domain-containing protein, as a histone demethylase specific for this repressing mark. Recombinant full-length wild type protein could remove methylation from H3K9me2, but mutation of a conserved histidine to alanine H247A abolished the demethylase activity. Overexpressed exogenous PHF8 was colocalized with B23 staining. Endogenous PHF8 was also colocalized with B23 and fibrillarin, two well-established nucleolus proteins, suggesting that PHF8 is localized in the nucleolus and may regulate rRNA transcription. Indeed, PHF8 bound to the promoter region of the rDNA gene. Knockdown of PHF8 reduced the expression of rRNA, and overexpression of the gene resulted in upregulation of rRNA transcript. Concomitantly, H3K9me2 level was elevated in the promoter region of the rDNA gene in PHF8 knockdown cells and reduced significantly when the wild type but not the catalytically inactive H247A mutant PHF8 was overexpressed. Thus, our study identified a histone demethylase for H3K9me2 that regulates rRNA transcription.
目的:为探讨SPARC(secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine)在人恶性肿瘤发生、发展中的作用及其分子机制,进一步明确SPARC发挥作用的方式及其与肿瘤发生类型的关系。方法:我们首先提取了人乳腺癌细胞系MCF-7的总RNA,在对总RNA进行纯度与定量检测后,利用RT-PCR的方法,以该总RNA为模板,将其反转录为cDNA;再设计引物,以该cDNA为模板,利用PCR扩增出包含Sparc编码区的DNA片段,将该产物纯化后通过T-A克隆连接入pMD20-T载体,利用菌落PCR及DNA测序进行鉴定。以pMD20-T-Sparc为模板,我们设计了特异的针对Sparc全长编码区的引物,并在引物5'端分别加入BamHI、HindIII酶切位点,通过PCR将Sparc编码区扩增出来,经纯化及双酶切后与真核表达载体pcDNA3.1myc-his(-)相连,再经菌落PCR和DNA测序进行鉴定。通过瞬时转染的方法,利用脂质体将所构建的重组SPARC真核表达载体转染HEK293细胞,48h后裂解所培养的细胞,使用western blot检测有无SPARC的表达。结果:测序证实所克隆的Sparc编码区cDNA正确地插入pcDNA3.1myc-his(-)中,western blot检测证实其在HEK293细胞中得到表达,而空载体转染的细胞则无表达,说明所构建的pcDNA3.1myc-his(-)-Sparc能够成功表达。结论:我们成功克隆了人Sparc cDNA,构建了其真核表达载体,并在HEK293细胞中得到有效表达,从而为进一步研究人SPARC的功能及其与肿瘤的关系奠定了基础。
Interleukin(IL)-17,the signature cytokine secreted by T helper(Th)17 cells,plays important roles in host defense against extracellular bacterial infection and fungal infection and contributes to the pathogenesis of various autoimmune inflammatory diseases.Here we review the recent advances in IL-17-mediated functions with emphasis on the studies of IL-17-mediated signal transduction,providing perspective on potential drug targets for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases.
