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Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Genome-wide Protein-protein Interaction Screening by Protein-fragment Complementation Assay PCA in Living Cells
Published on: March 3, 2015
Molecular basis for DPY-30 association to COMPASS-like and NURF complexes
Véronique Tremblay1, Pamela Zhang1, Chandra-Prakash Chaturvedi2
1Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada.
DPY-30 protein incorporation into COMPASS-like complexes is crucial for cell differentiation. Structural and functional studies reveal how ASH2L and DPY-30 interact, impacting histone methylation and erythroid development.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
- Structural Biology
Background:
- DPY-30 is a key subunit of mammalian COMPASS-like complexes.
- These complexes regulate global histone H3 Lys-4 trimethylation, a critical epigenetic mark.
- Dysregulation of these complexes can impact cellular processes like differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the structural basis of DPY-30 incorporation into COMPASS-like complexes.
- To investigate the functional consequences of impaired ASH2L-DPY-30 interactions.
- To identify other proteins that interact with DPY-30.
Main Methods:
- X-ray crystallography to determine structural interactions.
- Site-directed mutagenesis to disrupt ASH2L-DPY-30 binding.
- Biochemical assays (overlay assays) to identify DPY-30 interacting partners.
- Analysis of histone H3K4me3 levels and erythroid cell differentiation.
Main Results:
- Structural data revealed hydrophobic interactions between ASH2L's amphipathic α helix and the DPY-30 dimerization/docking (D/D) module.
- Mutations disrupting ASH2L-DPY-30 interaction led to loss of histone H3K4me3 at the β locus control region.
- Impaired interaction caused delayed erythroid cell terminal differentiation.
- DPY-30 was found to interact with BAP18, a subunit of the nucleosome remodeling factor complex.
Conclusions:
- The ASH2L/DPY-30 complex is essential for cell differentiation processes.
- DPY-30's ability to associate with different multisubunit complexes highlights its versatile role in gene regulation.
- These findings provide structural and functional insights into COMPASS-like complex assembly and function.
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