EZH2 variants differentially regulate polycomb repressive complex 2 in histone methylation and cell differentiation

Epigenetics Chromatin. 2018 Dec 6;11(1):71. doi: 10.1186/s13072-018-0242-9.

Abstract

Background: Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is responsible for establishing and maintaining histone H3K27 methylation during cell differentiation and proliferation. H3K27 can be mono-, di-, or trimethylated, resulting in differential gene regulation. However, it remains unknown how PRC2 specifies the degree and biological effects of H3K27 methylation within a given cellular context. One way to determine PRC2 specificity may be through alternative splicing of Ezh2, PRC2's catalytic subunit, during cell differentiation and tissue maturation.

Results: We fully characterized the alternative splicing of Ezh2 in somatic cells and male germ cells and found that Ezh's exon 14 was differentially regulated during mitosis and meiosis. The Ezh2 isoform containing exon 14 (ex14-Ezh2) is upregulated during cell cycle progression, consistent with a role in maintaining H3K27 methylation during chromatin replication. In contrast, the isoform lacking exon 14 (ex14D-Ezh2) was almost exclusively present in spermatocytes when new H3K27me2 is established during meiotic differentiation. Moreover, Ezh2's transcript is normally controlled by E2F transcription activators, but in spermatocytes, Ezh2's transcription is controlled by the meiotic regulator MYBL1. Compared to ex14-EZH2, ex14D-EZH2 has a diminished efficiency for catalyzing H3K27me3 and promotes embryonic stem cell differentiation.

Conclusions: Ezh2's expression is regulated at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in a cellular context-dependent manner. EZH2 variants determine functional specificity of PRC2 in histone methylation during cell proliferation and differentiation.

Keywords: Alternative splicing; Cell differentiation; EZH2; Histone methylation; Polycomb-group proteins; Spermatogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / genetics
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / metabolism*
  • Genetic Variation
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases / metabolism
  • Male
  • Methylation
  • Mice
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / genetics
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / metabolism*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Spermatocytes / cytology
  • Spermatocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Histones
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases
  • Kdm6b protein, mouse
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Ezh2 protein, mouse
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2