Novel Regulator Of Chromosome Function Characterized At Workman Lab

Main Category: Genetics
Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 11 Mar 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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The Stowers Institute's Workman Lab has shed new light on a novel histone acetyltransferase protein complex called ATAC. Acetyltransferases are enzymes that introduce a new acetyl functional group into histone proteins, a process by which all chromosome functions are controlled.

The findings were posted to the Web site of Nature Structural and Molecular Biology and will appear in a future print edition of the journal.

ATAC is unique as the only acetyltransferase protein complex that contains two distinct acetyltransferase enzymes; one that generally activates processes like gene transcription and DNA repair and another that makes a specific modification thought to alter chromosome structure. ATAC can also assist in the movement of chromosome subunits, called nucleosomes, along DNA.

The work was conducted using the Drosophila, or fruit fly, model - ATAC is present in multicellular organisms, including fruit flies and humans, but not in lower eukaryotes, like yeast.

"We knew that the ATAC complex existed and that it was only present in multicellular organisms, but we did not know all the proteins it contained or what their functions were," said Tamaki Suganuma, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate and first author on the paper. "In this work, we were able to identify the protein components of ATAC to gain insight into its functions."

The improved understanding of ATAC may lead to a better understanding of a number of human diseases.

"We were able to show that in Drosophila, the ATAC complex is essential for development of the embryo to an adult organism," said Jerry Workman, Ph.D., Investigator and senior author on the publication. "It is likely that ATAC will also be required for development of mammals, including humans, and that by understanding the functions of ATAC we will be better able to pinpoint its role in developmental defects and cancers." Having characterized all of the proteins in ATAC, the Workman Lab will now focus on which chromosomal functions it regulates and how these actions contribute to development.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Additional contributing authors from the Stowers Institute include José Gutiérrez, Ph.D., formerly a Postdoctoral Research Fellow; Bing Li, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate; Laurence Florens, Ph.D., Managing Director of Proteomics; Selene Swanson, Research Specialist II; Michael Washburn, Ph.D., Director of Proteomics; and Susan Abmayr, Ph.D., Associate Investigator.

Click here to learn more about Dr. Workman's research program.

About the Stowers Institute

Housed in a 600,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility on a 10-acre campus in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research conducts basic research on fundamental processes of cellular life. Through its commitment to collaborative research and the use of cutting-edge technology, the Institute seeks more effective means of preventing and curing disease. The Institute was founded by Jim and Virginia Stowers, two cancer survivors who have created combined endowments of $2 billion in support of basic research of the highest quality.

Source: Marie Jennings
Stowers Institute for Medical Research