14-309 Sigma-AldrichPCAF Protein, Active, 50 µg

HMGNs are nucleosome-binding proteins that alter the pattern of histone modifications and modulate the binding of linker histones to chromatin. The HMGN3 family member exists as two splice forms, HMGN3a which is full-length and HMGN3b which lacks the C-terminal RD (regulatory domain). In the present study, we have used the Glyt1 (glycine transporter 1) gene as a model system to investigate where HMGN proteins are bound across the locus in vivo, and to study how the two HMGN3 splice variants affect histone modifications and gene expression. We demonstrate that HMGN1, HMGN2, HMGN3a and HMGN3b are bound across the Glyt1 gene locus and surrounding regions, and are not enriched more highly at the promoter or putative enhancer. We conclude that the peaks of H3K4me3 (trimethylated Lys(4) of histone H3) and H3K9ac (acetylated Lys(9) of histone H3) at the active Glyt1a promoter do not play a major role in recruiting HMGN proteins. HMGN3a/b binding leads to increased H3K14 (Lys(14) of histone H3) acetylation and stimulates Glyt1a expression, but does not alter the levels of H3K4me3 or H3K9ac enrichment. Acetylation assays show that HMGN3a stimulates the ability of PCAF [p300/CREB (cAMP-response-element-binding protein)-binding protein-associated factor] to acetylate nucleosomal H3 in vitro, whereas HMGN3b does not. We propose a model where HMGN3a/b-stimulated H3K14 acetylation across the bodies of large genes such as Glyt1 can lead to more efficient transcription elongation and increased mRNA production.

A recombinant single chain variable-fragment (scFv) antibody against paeoniflorin (PF) was produced using the hybridoma cell line C31B9. Variable regions of heavy (V (H)) and light (V (L)) chain antibody genes were directly cloned from cDNA resources of hybridoma C31B9 and assembled using splicing by overlap extension (SOE)-PCR using a (Gly (4)Ser) (3) linker DNA. The constructed scFv genes were cloned into pET28a vectors for the generation of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. Most of the recombinant proteins were expressed in inclusion bodies. The yield of refolded and purified scFv was 1.89 mg per 100 mL of cell culture. The recombinant scFv displayed cross-reactivity as its mother monoclonal antibody (MAb) C31B9. Therefore, the newly expressed scFv protein was applied to quantitative ELISA to determine the total paeoniflorin (PF) and albiflorin (Alb) concentrations in peony root samples. Using PF as a standard compound, the full linear range of the assay was extended from 0.78 to 25 microg/mL. The results obtained by ELISA employing both the recombinant scFv and the original MAbC31B9 showed a reasonably good agreement with each other.

The acetylation levels of lysine residues in nucleosomes, which are determined by the opposing activities of histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and deacetylases, play an important role in regulating chromatin-related processes, including transcription. We report that HMGN1, a nucleosomal binding protein that reduces the compaction of the chromatin fiber, increases the levels of acetylation of K14 in H3. The levels of H3K14ac in Hmgn1-/- cells are lower than in Hmgn1+/+ cells. Induced expression of wild-type HMGN1, but not of a mutant that does not bind to chromatin, in Hmgn1-/- cells elevates the levels of H3K14ac. In vivo, HMGN1 elevates the levels of H3K14ac by enhancing the action of HAT. In vitro, HMGN1 enhances the ability of PCAF to acetylate nucleosomal, but not free, H3. Thus, HMGN1 modulates the levels of H3K14ac by binding to chromatin. We suggest that HMGN1, and perhaps similar architectural proteins, modulates the levels of acetylation in chromatin by altering the equilibrium generated by the opposing enzymatic activities that continuously modify and de-modify the histone tails in nucleosomes.

The p53 tumor suppressor protein is a sequence-specific transcription factor that modulates the response of cells to DNA damage. Recent studies suggest that full transcriptional activity of p53 requires the coactivators CREB binding protein (CBP)/p300 and PCAF. These coactivators interact with each other, and both possess intrinsic histone acetyltransferase activity. Furthermore, p300 acetylates p53 to activate its sequence-specific DNA binding activity in vitro. In this study, we demonstrate that PCAF also acetylates p53 in vitro at a lysine residue distinct from that acetylated by p300 and thereby increases p53's ability to bind to its cognate DNA site. We have generated antibodies to acetylated p53 peptides at either of the two lysine residues that are targeted by PCAF or p300 and have demonstrated that these antibodies are highly specific for both acetylation and the particular site. Using these antibodies, we detect acetylation of these sites in vivo, and interestingly, acetylation at both sites increases in response to DNA-damaging agents. These data indicate that site-specific acetylation of p53 increases under physiological conditions that activate p53 and identify CBP/p300 and PCAF as the probable enzymes that modify p53 in vivo.