Polycomb PRC2 complex mediates epigenetic silencing of a critical osteogenic master regulator in the hippocampus

Rodrigo Aguilar, Fernando J. Bustos, Mauricio Saez, Adriana Rojas, Miguel L. Allende, Andre J. van Wijnen, Brigitte van Zundert, Martin Montecino

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

During hippocampal neuron differentiation, the expression of critical inducers of non-neuronal cell lineages must be efficiently silenced. Runx2 transcription factor is the master regulator of mesenchymal cells responsible for intramembranous osteoblast differentiation and formation of the craniofacial bone tissue that surrounds and protects the central nervous system (CNS) in mammalian embryos. The molecular mechanisms that mediate silencing of the Runx2 gene and its downstream target osteogenic-related genes in neuronal cells have not been explored. Here, we assess the epigenetic mechanisms that mediate silencing of osteoblast-specific genes in CNS neurons. In particular, we address the contribution of histone epigenetic marks and histone modifiers on the silencing of the Runx2/p57 bone-related isoform in rat hippocampal tissues at embryonic to adult stages. Our results indicate enrichment of repressive chromatin histone marks and of the Polycomb PRC2 complex at the Runx2/p57 promoter region. Knockdown of PRC2 H3K27-methyltransferases Ezh2 and Ezh1, or forced expression of the Trithorax/COMPASS subunit Wdr5 activates Runx2/p57 mRNA expression in both immature and mature hippocampal cells. Together these results indicate that complementary epigenetic mechanisms progressively and efficiently silence critical osteoblastic genes during hippocampal neuron differentiation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1043-1055
Number of pages13
JournalBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms
Volume1859
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2016

Keywords

  • Epigenetic regulation of gene expression
  • Hippocampus
  • Runx2

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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