Histone hyperacetylation induces demethylation of reelin and 67-kDa glutamic acid decarboxylase promoters

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Mar 13;104(11):4676-81. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0700529104. Epub 2007 Mar 7.

Abstract

Reelin and glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD(67)) expression down-regulation in GABAergic interneurons of mice exposed to protracted treatment with l-methionine (MET) is attributed to RELN and GAD(67) promoter cytosine-5-hypermethylation. This process recruits various transcription repressor proteins [methyl-CpG binding protein (MeCP2) and histone deacetylases (HDACs)] leading to formation of transcriptionally inactive chromatin. Here, we tested the hypothesis that RELN and GAD(67) promoter cytosine-5-hypermethylation induced by a protracted MET treatment is reversible and that repeated administration of HDAC inhibitors influences this process by an activation of DNA-cytosine-5-demethylation. In the frontal cortices of mice receiving MET (5.2 mmol/kg twice a day for 7 days) and killed at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 days during MET washout, we measured RELN (base pairs -414 to -242) and GAD(67) (base pairs -1133 to -942) promoter methylation and MeCP2 bound to methylated cytosines of RELN (base pairs -520 to -198) and GAD(67) (base pairs -446 to -760) promoters. Levels of RELN and GAD(67) promoter hypermethylation induced by 7 days of MET treatment declines by approximately 50% after 6 days of MET withdrawal. When valproate (VPA) (2 mmol/kg) or MS-275 (0.015-0.12 mmol/kg), two structurally unrelated HDAC inhibitors, was given after MET treatment termination, VPA and MS-275 dramatically accelerated RELN and GAD(67) promoter demethylation in 48-72 h. At these doses, VPA and MS-275 effectively increased the binding of acetylhistone-3 to RELN and GAD(67) promoters, suggesting that histone-3 covalent modifications modulate DNA demethylation in terminally differentiated neurons, supporting the view that, directly or indirectly, HDAC inhibitors may facilitate DNA demethylation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / chemistry*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / genetics*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / metabolism
  • Cytosine / chemistry
  • DNA Methylation
  • Down-Regulation
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / chemistry*
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics*
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / chemistry*
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / genetics*
  • Histones / chemistry*
  • Isoenzymes / chemistry*
  • Isoenzymes / genetics*
  • Male
  • Methylation
  • Mice
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Reelin Protein
  • Serine Endopeptidases / chemistry*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Valproic Acid / pharmacology

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Histones
  • Isoenzymes
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Reelin Protein
  • Valproic Acid
  • Cytosine
  • Reln protein, mouse
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase
  • glutamate decarboxylase 1