Distinct binding modes specify the recognition of methylated histones H3K4 and H4K20 by JMJD2A-tudor

Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2008 Jan;15(1):109-11. doi: 10.1038/nsmb1326. Epub 2007 Dec 16.

Abstract

The lysine demethylase JMJD2A has the unique property of binding trimethylated peptides from two different histone sequences (H3K4me3 and H4K20me3) through its tudor domains. Here we show using X-ray crystallography and calorimetry that H3K4me3 and H4K20me3, which are recognized with similar affinities by JMJD2A, adopt radically different binding modes, to the extent that we were able to design single point mutations in JMJD2A that inhibited the recognition of H3K4me3 but not H4K20me3 and vice versa.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Histones / chemistry*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases
  • Methylation
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / chemistry*
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / genetics
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / metabolism*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Histones
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases
  • KDM4A protein, human
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating

Associated data

  • PDB/2QQR
  • PDB/2QQS