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Transcriptional Activity of the Islet β Cell Factor Pdx1 Is Augmented by Lysine Methylation Catalyzed by the Methyltransferase Set7/9*

Aarthi V. Maganti, Bernhard Maier, S. Tersey, Megan L. Sampley, A. Mosley, Sabire Özcan, Boobalan Pachaiyappan, P. Woster et al.

Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2015

47 citations

Abstract

Background: Pdx1 interacts with the methyltransferase Set7/9 to transactivate β cell genes. Results: Methylation of Pdx1 residue Lys-131 by Set7/9 augments Pdx1 activity. Conclusion: The ability of Pdx1 to regulate genes in β cells is partially dependent upon its methylation by Set7/9. Significance: This study reveals a previously unappreciated role for Lys methylation in the maintenance of Pdx1 activity and β cell function. The transcription factor Pdx1 is crucial to islet β cell function and regulates target genes in part through interaction with coregulatory factors. Set7/9 is a Lys methyltransferase that interacts with Pdx1. Here we tested the hypothesis that Lys methylation of Pdx1 by Set7/9 augments Pdx1 transcriptional activity. Using mass spectrometry and mutational analysis of purified proteins, we found that Set7/9 methylates the N-terminal residues Lys-123 and Lys-131 of Pdx1. Methylation of these residues occurred only in the context of intact, full-length Pdx1, suggesting a specific requirement of secondary and/or tertiary structural elements for catalysis by Set7/9. Immunoprecipitation assays and mass spectrometric analysis using β cells verified Lys methylation of endogenous Pdx1. Cell-based luciferase reporter assays using wild-type and mutant transgenes revealed a requirement of Pdx1 residue Lys-131, but not Lys-123, for transcriptional augmentation by Set7/9. Lys-131 was not required for high-affinity interactions with DNA in vitro, suggesting that its…

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