Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

Isolation and Cultivation of Neural Progenitors Followed by Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation of Histone 3 Lysine 79 Dimethylation Mark
Published on: January 26, 2018
Modulation of lysine methylation in myocyte enhancer factor 2 during skeletal muscle cell differentiation
Jinmi Choi1, Hyonchol Jang, Hyunsoo Kim
1Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Creative Research Center for Epigenome Reprogramming Network, Ischemic/Hypoxic Disease Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Division of Cancer Biology, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 410-769, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, National Research Laboratory for Chromatin Dynamics, College of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746 and WCU Department of Molecular Medicine & Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 110-799, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) is a family of transcription factors that regulates many processes, including muscle differentiation. Due to its many target genes, MEF2D requires tight regulation of transcription activity over time and by location. Epigenetic modifiers have been suggested to regulate MEF2-dependent transcription via modifications to histones and MEF2. However, the modulation of MEF2 activity by lysine methylation, an important posttranslational modification that alters the activities of transcription factors, has not been studied. We report the reversible lysine methylation of MEF2D by G9a and LSD1 as a regulatory mechanism of MEF2D activity and skeletal muscle differentiation. G9a methylates lysine-267 of MEF2D and represses its transcriptional activity, but LSD1 counteracts it. This residue is highly conserved between MEF2 members in mammals. During myogenic differentiation of C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cells, the methylation of MEF2D by G9a decreased, on which MEF2D-dependent myogenic genes were upregulated. We have also identified lysine-267 as a methylation/demethylation site and demonstrate that the lysine methylation state of MEF2D regulates its transcriptional activity and skeletal muscle cell differentiation.
Related Concept Videos
Histone Modification
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Histone Modification
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Master Transcription Regulators
Chromatin Modification in iPS Cells
Compact chromatin makes reprogramming difficult. Enzymes, such as histone demethylases and acetyltransferases, are often added during reprogramming to loosen the chromatin, making the DNA more accessible to transcription factors. Molecules that inhibit histone...
Formation of Muscle Fibers from Myoblasts
Muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) are formed from the myotomes. MPCs express genes that encode the transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7. Along with Pax 3/7, other transcription factors...
Spreading of Chromatin Modifications
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...

