Use of synthetic peptides for identifying biotinylation sites in human histones

Methods Mol Biol. 2008:418:139-48. doi: 10.1007/978-1-59745-579-4_12.

Abstract

Posttranslational modifications of histones play an important role in the regulation of chromatin structure and, hence, gene regulation. Recently, we have identified a novel modification of histones: binding of the vitamin biotin to lysine residues in histones H2A, H3, and H4. Here, we describe a procedure to identify those amino acids that are targets for biotinylation in histones. Briefly, the following analytical sequence is used to identify biotinylation sites: (i) short peptides (<20 amino acids in length) are synthesized chemically; amino acid sequences in the peptides are based on the sequence in a given region of a given histone; (ii) peptides are incubated with biotinidase or holocarboxylase synthetase to conduct enzymatic biotinylation; and (iii) biotin in peptides are probed using streptavidin peroxidase. Amino acid substitutions (e.g., lysine-to-alanine substitutions) in synthetic peptides can be used to corroborate identification of biotinylation sites.

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

  • Animals
  • Biotinidase / blood
  • Biotinidase / metabolism
  • Biotinylation*
  • Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases / metabolism
  • Histones / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Mice
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Spleen / enzymology
  • Streptavidin / chemistry

Substances

  • Histones
  • Peptides
  • Streptavidin
  • Biotinidase
  • Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases
  • holocarboxylase synthetases