The sub-nucleolar localization of PHF6 defines its role in rDNA transcription and early processing events

Eur J Hum Genet. 2016 Oct;24(10):1453-9. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2016.40. Epub 2016 May 11.

Abstract

Ribosomal RNA synthesis occurs in the nucleolus and is a tightly regulated process that is targeted in some developmental diseases and hyperactivated in multiple cancers. Subcellular localization and immunoprecipitation coupled mass spectrometry demonstrated that a proportion of plant homeodomain (PHD) finger protein 6 (PHF6) protein is localized within the nucleolus and interacts with proteins involved in ribosomal processing. PHF6 sequence variants cause Börjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome (BFLS, MIM#301900) and are also associated with a female-specific phenotype overlapping with Coffin-Siris syndrome (MIM#135900), T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MIM#613065), and acute myeloid leukemia (MIM#601626); however, very little is known about its cellular function, including its nucleolar role. HEK 293T cells were treated with RNase A, DNase I, actinomycin D, or 5,6-dichloro-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimadole, followed by immunocytochemistry to determine PHF6 sub-nucleolar localization. We observed RNA-dependent localization of PHF6 to the sub-nucleolar fibrillar center (FC) and dense fibrillar component (DFC), at whose interface rRNA transcription occurs. Subsequent ChIP-qPCR analysis revealed strong enrichment of PHF6 across the entire rDNA-coding sequence but not along the intergenic spacer (IGS) region. When rRNA levels were quantified in a PHF6 gain-of-function model, we observed an overall decrease in rRNA transcription, accompanied by a modest increase in repressive promoter-associated RNA (pRNA) and a significant increase in the expression levels of the non-coding IGS36RNA and IGS39RNA transcripts. Collectively, our results demonstrate a role for PHF6 in carefully mediating the overall levels of ribosome biogenesis within a cell.

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA, Ribosomal / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • PHF6 protein, human
  • RNA, Ribosomal
  • Repressor Proteins