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Regulation of chromatin dynamics by a calcium-dependent nucleoskeleton
María José González1, Michele Angela Rodrigues1, Santo Diprima2
1Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Section of Digestive Diseases, Internal Medicine, Yale University CT, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|May 8, 2026
Summary
Growth factors trigger gene transcription by forming a temporary actin structure within the nucleus. This structure, involving non-muscle myosin IIA (MYH9), helps move genes to the transcription machinery.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Gene Regulation
Background:
- Growth factors activate nuclear calcium signaling, regulating gene transcription.
- The precise mechanisms of intranuclear calcium signaling and gene regulation remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of calcium signaling in growth factor-induced gene transcription.
- To investigate the involvement of actin and myosin in intranuclear events.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of nuclear inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) levels.
- Analysis of intranuclear actin nucleoskeleton assembly and its association with non-muscle myosin 2A (MYH9).
- Mass spectrometry and chromatin immunoprecipitation to identify MYH9-associated factors and genes.
Main Results:
- Growth factors increase nuclear IP3, releasing calcium via intranuclear IP3 receptors (ITPRs).
- This calcium release induces transient assembly of an actin nucleoskeleton associated with MYH9.
- MYH9 was found to associate with components of the gene transcription machinery, including specific genes.
Conclusions:
- Growth factors initiate gene transcription through a calcium-dependent mechanism involving actin and MYH9.
- A transient actin nucleoskeleton assembled by MYH9 facilitates the recruitment of specific genes for transcription.
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