A novel repressive E2F6 complex containing the polycomb group protein, EPC1, that interacts with EZH2 in a proliferation-specific manner

J Biol Chem. 2005 Jan 14;280(2):1199-208. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M412509200. Epub 2004 Nov 8.

Abstract

The transcriptional repressor E2F6 has been identified as a component of two distinct polycomb group protein (PcG)-containing complexes, suggesting a mechanism for the recruitment of repressive complexes to target sequences in DNA. Whereas one complex is involved in the repression of classic E2F target genes in G0, a role for E2F6 within the cell cycle has yet to be defined. We searched for novel E2F6-binding proteins using a yeast two-hybrid screen and identified the PcG protein, EPC1. We showed that, both in vitro and in vivo, E2F6, DP1, and EPC1 form a stable core complex with repressive activity. Furthermore, we identified the proliferation-specific PcG, EZH2, as an EPC1-interacting protein. Using affinity purification, we showed that E2F6, DP1, EPC1, EZH2, and Sin3B co-elute, suggesting the identification of a novel E2F6 complex that exists in vivo in both normal and transformed human cell lines. EZH2 is required for cellular proliferation and consistent with this, EZH2 elutes with the E2F6-EPC1 complex only in proliferating cells. Thus we have identified a novel E2F6-PcG complex (E2F6-EPC1) that interacts with EZH2 and may regulate genes required for cell cycle progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / chemistry
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • E2F Transcription Factors
  • E2F6 Transcription Factor
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Multiprotein Complexes / chemistry
  • Multiprotein Complexes / genetics
  • Multiprotein Complexes / isolation & purification
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Transcription Factor DP1
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • E2F Transcription Factors
  • E2F6 Transcription Factor
  • Epc1 protein, mouse
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • TFDP1 protein, human
  • Tfdp1 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factor DP1
  • Transcription Factors
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Ezh2 protein, mouse
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2