A novel repressive E2F6 complex containing the polycomb group protein, EPC1, that interacts with EZH2 in a proliferation-specific manner.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Claire Attwooll
  • Sergio Oddi
  • Peter Cartwright
  • Elena Prosperini
  • Karl Agger
  • Peter Steensgaard
  • Christian Wagener
  • Claude Sardet
  • M Cristina Moroni
  • Kristian Helin
The transcriptional repressor E2F6 has been identified as a component of two distinct polycomb group protein (PcG)-containing complexes, suggesting a mechanism for the recruitment of repressive complexes to target sequences in DNA. Whereas one complex is involved in the repression of classic E2F target genes in G0, a role for E2F6 within the cell cycle has yet to be defined. We searched for novel E2F6-binding proteins using a yeast two-hybrid screen and identified the PcG protein, EPC1. We showed that, both in vitro and in vivo, E2F6, DP1, and EPC1 form a stable core complex with repressive activity. Furthermore, we identified the proliferation-specific PcG, EZH2, as an EPC1-interacting protein. Using affinity purification, we showed that E2F6, DP1, EPC1, EZH2, and Sin3B co-elute, suggesting the identification of a novel E2F6 complex that exists in vivo in both normal and transformed human cell lines. EZH2 is required for cellular proliferation and consistent with this, EZH2 elutes with the E2F6-EPC1 complex only in proliferating cells. Thus we have identified a novel E2F6-PcG complex (E2F6-EPC1) that interacts with EZH2 and may regulate genes required for cell cycle progression.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume280
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)1199-208
Number of pages9
ISSN0021-9258
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Animals; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Line; Cell Proliferation; DNA-Binding Proteins; E2F Transcription Factors; E2F6 Transcription Factor; Humans; Mice; Multiprotein Complexes; Promoter Regions (Genetics); Protein Binding; Proteins; Repressor Proteins; Substrate Specificity; Transcription Factor DP1; Transcription Factors; Two-Hybrid System Techniques

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