Assembly of methylated KDM1A and CHD1 drives androgen receptor-dependent transcription and translocation

Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2016 Feb;23(2):132-9. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.3153. Epub 2016 Jan 11.

Abstract

Prostate cancer evolution is driven by a combination of epigenetic and genetic alterations such as coordinated chromosomal rearrangements, termed chromoplexy. TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusions found in human prostate tumors are a hallmark of chromoplexy. TMPRSS2-ERG fusions have been linked to androgen signaling and depend on androgen receptor (AR)-coupled gene transcription. Here, we show that dimethylation of KDM1A at K114 (to form K114me2) by the histone methyltransferase EHMT2 is a key event controlling androgen-dependent gene transcription and TMPRSS2-ERG fusion. We identified CHD1 as a KDM1A K114me2 reader and characterized the KDM1A K114me2-CHD1 recognition mode by solving the cocrystal structure. Genome-wide analyses revealed chromatin colocalization of KDM1A K114me2, CHD1 and AR in prostate tumor cells. Together, our data link the assembly of methylated KDM1A and CHD1 with AR-dependent transcription and genomic translocations, thereby providing mechanistic insight into the formation of TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusions during prostate-tumor evolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • DNA Helicases / analysis
  • DNA Helicases / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Histocompatibility Antigens / metabolism
  • Histone Demethylases / analysis
  • Histone Demethylases / metabolism*
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methylation
  • Models, Molecular
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Receptors, Androgen / analysis
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Translocation, Genetic*

Substances

  • AR protein, human
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • TMPRSS2-ERG fusion protein, human
  • Histone Demethylases
  • KDM1A protein, human
  • EHMT2 protein, human
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • DNA Helicases
  • CHD1 protein, human