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  • The EMBO Journal (2007) 26, 144 - 157
  • doi:10.1038/sj.emboj.7601478

Published online: 7 December 2006

The human synMuv-like protein LIN-9 is required for transcription of G2/M genes and for entry into mitosis

Lisa Osterloh1,a, Björn von Eyss1,a, Fabienne Schmit1, Lena Rein1, Denise Hübner1, Birgit Samans2, Stefanie Hauser1 and Stefan Gaubatz1

  1. Department of Physiological Chemistry I, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
  2. Institute for Molecular Biology and Tumor Research, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany

Correspondence to:

Stefan Gaubatz, Department of Physiological Chemistry I, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany. Tel.: +49 931 888 4138; Fax: +49 931 888 4150; E-mail: stefan.gaubatz@biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de

aThese authors contributed equally to this work

Received 3 July 2006; Accepted 16 November 2006

Regulated gene expression is critical for the proper timing of cell cycle transitions. Here we report that human LIN-9 has an important function in transcriptional regulation of G2/M genes. Depletion of LIN-9 by RNAi in human fibroblasts strongly impairs proliferation and delays progression from G2 to M. We identify a cluster of G2/M genes as direct targets of LIN-9. Activation of these genes is linked to an association between LIN-9 and B-MYB. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed binding of both LIN-9 and B-MYB to the promoters of G2/M regulated genes. Depletion of B-MYB recapitulated the biological outcome of LIN-9 knockdown, including impaired proliferation and reduced expression of G2/M genes. These data suggest a critical role for human LIN-9, together with B-MYB, in the activation of genes that are essential for progression into mitosis.

  • Keywords:

    • B-MYB; E2F; G2/M; LIN-9; mitosis