Open AccessALKBH1 is a Histone H2A Dioxygenase Involved in Neural Differentiation
Author(s) -
Ougland Rune,
Lando David,
Jonson Ida,
Dahl John A.,
Moen Marivi Nabong,
Nordstrand Line M.,
Rognes Torbjørn,
Lee Jeannie T.,
Klungland Arne,
Kouzarides Tony,
Larsen Elisabeth
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.1228
Subject(s) - biology , histone , chromatin immunoprecipitation , chromatin , embryonic stem cell , histone methylation , epigenetics , neural stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cellular differentiation , histone code , histone h2a , alkb , gene , dna methylation , genetics , gene expression , stem cell , dna repair , nucleosome , promoter
AlkB homolog 1 (ALKBH1) is one of nine members of the family of mammalian AlkB homologs. Most Alkbh1 −/− mice die during embryonic development, and survivors are characterized by defects in tissues originating from the ectodermal lineage. In this study, we show that deletion of Alkbh1 prolonged the expression of pluripotency markers in embryonic stem cells and delayed the induction of genes involved in early differentiation. In vitro differentiation to neural progenitor cells (NPCs) displayed an increased rate of apoptosis in the Alkbh1 −/− NPCs when compared with wild‐type cells. Whole‐genome expression analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that ALKBH1 regulates both directly and indirectly, a subset of genes required for neural development. Furthermore, our in vitro enzyme activity assays demonstrate that ALKBH1 is a histone dioxygenase that acts specifically on histone H2A. Mass spectrometric analysis demonstrated that histone H2A from Alkbh1 −/− mice are improperly methylated. Our results suggest that ALKBH1 is involved in neural development by modifying the methylation status of histone H2A. S TEM C ELLS 2012;30:2672–2682