Activation of transcription through histone H4 acetylation by MOF, an acetyltransferase essential for dosage compensation in Drosophila

Citation
A. Akhtar et Pb. Becker, Activation of transcription through histone H4 acetylation by MOF, an acetyltransferase essential for dosage compensation in Drosophila, MOL CELL, 5(2), 2000, pp. 367-375
Citations number
56
Categorie Soggetti
Cell & Developmental Biology
Journal title
MOLECULAR CELL
ISSN journal
10972765 → ACNP
Volume
5
Issue
2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
367 - 375
Database
ISI
SICI code
1097-2765(200002)5:2<367:AOTTHH>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
Dosage compensation in Drosophila involves a P-fold increase in transcripti on from the single male X relative to the two female X chromosomes. Regulat ion at the level of the chromosome involves alterations in chromatin organi zation: male X chromosomes appear decondensed and are marked by acetylation of histone H4 at lysine 16. We demonstrate that MOF, a protein required fo r dosage compensation with significant sequence similarity to the MYST fami ly of acetyltransferases, is a histone acetyltransferase that acetylates ch romatin specifically at histone H4 lysine 16. This acetylation relieves chr omatin-mediated repression of transcription in vitro and in vivo if MOF is targeted to a promoter by fusion to a DNA-binding domain. Acetylation of ch romatin by MOF, therefore, appears to be causally involved in transcription al activation during dosage compensation.