PHF8 and REST/NRSF co-occupy gene promoters to regulate proximal gene expression

Sci Rep. 2014 May 23:4:5008. doi: 10.1038/srep05008.

Abstract

Chromatin regulators play an important role in the development of human diseases. In this study, we focused on Plant Homeo Domain Finger protein 8 (PHF8), a chromatin regulator that has attracted special concern recently. PHF8 is a histone lysine demethylase ubiquitously expressed in nuclei. Mutations of PHF8 are associated with X-linked mental retardation. It usually functions as a transcriptional co-activator by associating with H3K4me3 and RNA polymerase II. We found that PHF8 may associate with another regulator, REST/NRSF, predominately at promoter regions via studying several published PHF8 chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-Seq) datasets. Our analysis suggested that PHF8 not only activates but may also repress gene expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Histone Demethylases / genetics
  • Histone Demethylases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Nucleotide Motifs / genetics*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics*
  • RNA Polymerase II / genetics
  • RNA Polymerase II / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • RE1-silencing transcription factor
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Histone Demethylases
  • PHF8 protein, human
  • RNA Polymerase II