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Interplay Between BALL and CREB Binding Protein Maintains H3K27 Acetylation on Active Genes in Drosophila

Ammad Shaukat1, Muhammad Haider Farooq Khan1, Hina Ahmad1

  • 1Epigenetics and Gene Regulation Laboratory, Department of Biology, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|October 15, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The study reveals a new interaction between Ballchen (BALL) and CREB binding protein (CBP) in Drosophila. This synergy is crucial for maintaining gene activation by regulating H3K27ac levels.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • CREB binding protein (CBP) is a key transcriptional co-activator and histone acetyltransferase.
  • CBP-mediated histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) marks gene activation by trithorax group proteins (trxG) in Drosophila.
  • Ballchen (BALL), a histone kinase, co-localizes with H3K27ac and is essential for maintaining gene activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction between BALL and CBP.
  • To elucidate the role of this interaction in regulating H3K27ac and gene activation.

Main Methods:

  • Genome-wide binding profile analysis of BALL and CBP.
  • Biochemical assays to confirm interaction.
  • Depletion studies to assess the impact on H3K27ac levels.

Main Results:

  • BALL and CBP show significant overlap in genome-wide binding profiles, co-localizing at actively transcribed genes.
  • BALL directly interacts with CBP.
  • Depletion of BALL leads to a substantial decrease in H3K27ac.

Conclusions:

  • A novel synergistic interaction between BALL and CBP has been identified.
  • This BALL-CBP pathway plays a critical role in maintaining H3K27ac levels.
  • The findings suggest a new mechanism for regulating gene activation during development.

Keywords:
CBPChIP-seqepigeneticsgene activationhistone modifications

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