Letter abstract
Nature Cell Biology 10, 77 - 84 (2008)
Published online: 9 December 2007 | doi:10.1038/ncb1671
Pax7 activates myogenic genes by recruitment of a histone methyltransferase complex
Iain W. McKinnell1,3, Jeff Ishibashi1,3, Fabien Le Grand1, Vincent G. J. Punch1, Gregory C. Addicks1, Jack F. Greenblatt2, F. Jeffrey Dilworth1 & Michael A. Rudnicki1
Satellite cells purified from adult skeletal muscle can participate extensively in muscle regeneration and can also re-populate the satellite cell pool, suggesting that they have direct therapeutic potential for treating degenerative muscle diseases1, 2. The paired-box transcription factor Pax7 is required for satellite cells to generate committed myogenic progenitors3. In this study we undertook a multi-level approach to define the role of Pax7 in satellite cell function. Using comparative microarray analysis, we identified several novel and strongly regulated targets; in particular, we identified Myf5 as a gene whose expression was regulated by Pax7. Using siRNA, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies we confirmed that Myf5 is directly regulated by Pax7 in myoblasts derived from satellite cells. Tandem affinity purification (TAP) and mass spectrometry were used to purify Pax7 together with its co-factors. This revealed that Pax7 associates with the Wdr5–Ash2L–MLL2 histone methyltransferase (HMT) complex that directs methylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4, refs 4–10). Binding of the Pax7–HMT complex to Myf5 resulted in H3K4 tri-methylation of surrounding chromatin. Thus, Pax7 induces chromatin modifications that stimulate transcriptional activation of target genes to regulate entry into the myogenic developmental programme.
- Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa Health Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8L6 and Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8L6.
- Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto, 112 College Street, Ontario, Canada M5G 1L6.
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
Correspondence to: Michael A. Rudnicki1 e-mail: mrudnicki@ohri.ca
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