scholarly journals Scintillation Proximity Assay of Arginine Methylation

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiang Wu ◽  
Nan Xie ◽  
You Feng ◽  
Y. George Zheng
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Scintillation Counter ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Arginine Methylation ◽  
Activity Measurement ◽  
Histone H4 ◽  
Protein Arginine Methyltransferases ◽  
Scintillation Proximity Assay ◽  
Assay Procedure ◽  
Arginine Residues

Methylation of arginine residues, catalyzed by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), is one important protein posttranslational modification involved in epigenetic regulation of gene expression. A fast and effective assay for PRMT can provide valuable information for dissecting the biological functions of PRMTs, as well as for screening small-molecule inhibitors of arginine methylation. Currently, among the methods used for PRMT activity measurement, many contain laborious separation procedures, which restrict the applications of these assays for high-throughput screening (HTS) in drug discovery. The authors report here a mix-and-measure method to measure PRMT activity based on the principle of scintillation proximity assay (SPA). In this assay, 3H-AdoMet was used as methyl donor, and biotin-modified histone H4 peptide served as a methylation substrate. Following the methylation reaction catalyzed by PRMTs, streptavidin-coated SPA beads were added to the reaction solution, and SPA signals were detected by a MicroBeta scintillation counter. No separation step is needed, which simplifies the assay procedure and greatly enhances the assay speed. Particularly, the miniaturization and robustness suggest that this method is suited for HTS of PRMT inhibitors.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Drosophila protein arginine methyltransferases DART1 and DART4

2004 ◽  
Vol 379 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Chloé BOULANGER ◽  
Tina Branscombe MIRANDA ◽  
Steven CLARKE ◽  
Marco di FRUSCIO ◽  
Beat SUTER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Binding ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Genetic System ◽  
Arginine Methylation ◽  
Type I ◽  
Protein Arginine Methyltransferases ◽  
Arginine Residues ◽  
Drosophila Protein

The role of arginine methylation in Drosophila melanogaster is unknown. We identified a family of nine PRMTs (protein arginine methyltransferases) by sequence homology with mammalian arginine methyltransferases, which we have named DART1 to DART9 (Drosophilaarginine methyltransferases 1–9). In keeping with the mammalian PRMT nomenclature, DART1, DART4, DART5 and DART7 are the putative homologues of PRMT1, PRMT4, PRMT5 and PRMT7. Other DART family members have a closer resemblance to PRMT1, but do not have identifiable homologues. All nine genes are expressed in Drosophila at various developmental stages. DART1 and DART4 have arginine methyltransferase activity towards substrates, including histones and RNA-binding proteins. Amino acid analysis of the methylated arginine residues confirmed that both DART1 and DART4 catalyse the formation of asymmetrical dimethylated arginine residues and they are type I arginine methyltransferases. The presence of PRMTs in D. melanogaster suggest that flies are a suitable genetic system to study arginine methylation.

scholarly journals Epigenetic control via allosteric regulation of mammalian protein arginine methyltransferases

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (38) ◽  
pp. 10101-10106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanishk Jain ◽  
Cyrus Y. Jin ◽  
Steven G. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Gene Activation ◽  
Kinetic Studies ◽  
Arginine Methylation ◽  
Histone H4 ◽  
Protein Arginine Methyltransferases ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Substrate Concentrations

Arginine methylation on histones is a central player in epigenetics and in gene activation and repression. Protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) activity has been implicated in stem cell pluripotency, cancer metastasis, and tumorigenesis. The expression of one of the nine mammalian PRMTs, PRMT5, affects the levels of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) at Arg-3 on histone H4, leading to the repression of genes which are related to disease progression in lymphoma and leukemia. Another PRMT, PRMT7, also affects SDMA levels at the same site despite its unique monomethylating activity and the lack of any evidence for PRMT7-catalyzed histone H4 Arg-3 methylation. We present evidence that PRMT7-mediated monomethylation of histone H4 Arg-17 regulates PRMT5 activity at Arg-3 in the same protein. We analyzed the kinetics of PRMT5 over a wide range of substrate concentrations. Significantly, we discovered that PRMT5 displays positive cooperativity in vitro, suggesting that this enzyme may be allosterically regulated in vivo as well. Most interestingly, monomethylation at Arg-17 in histone H4 not only raised the general activity of PRMT5 with this substrate, but also ameliorated the low activity of PRMT5 at low substrate concentrations. These kinetic studies suggest a biochemical explanation for the interplay between PRMT5- and PRMT7-mediated methylation of the same substrate at different residues and also suggest a general model for regulation of PRMTs. Elucidating the exact relationship between these two enzymes when they methylate two distinct sites of the same substrate may aid in developing therapeutics aimed at reducing PRMT5/7 activity in cancer and other diseases.

Methylation of the nuclear poly(A)-binding protein by type I protein arginine methyltransferases – how and why

2013 ◽  
Vol 394 (8) ◽  
pp. 1029-1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmar Wahle ◽  
Bodo Moritz
Keyword(s):  
Active Sites ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Arginine Methylation ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
General Mechanism ◽  
Type I ◽  
Protein Arginine Methyltransferases ◽  
Low Protein ◽  
Backbone Conformation ◽  
Arginine Residues

Abstract Asymmetric dimethylation of arginine side chains in proteins is a frequent posttranslational modification, catalyzed by type I protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). This article summarizes what is known about this modification in the nuclear poly(A)-binding protein (PABPN1). PABPN1 contains 13 dimethylated arginine residues in its C-terminal domain. Three enzymes, PRMT1, 3, and 6, can methylate PABPN1. Although 26 methyl groups are transferred to one PABPN1 molecule, the PRMTs do so in a distributive reaction, i.e., only a single methyl group is transferred per binding event. As PRMTs form dimers, with the active sites accessible from a small central cavity, backbone conformation around the methyl-accepting arginine is an important determinant of substrate specificity. Neither the association of PABPN1 with poly(A) nor its role in poly(A) tail synthesis is affected by arginine methylation. At least at low protein concentration, methylation does not affect the protein’s tendency to oligomerize. The dimethylarginine residues of PABPN1 are located in the binding site for its nuclear import receptor, transportin. Arginine methylation weakens this interaction about 10-fold. Very recent evidence suggests that arginine methylation as a way of fine-tuning the interactions between transportin and its cargo may be a general mechanism.

scholarly journals Histone H4-based peptoids are inhibitors of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1)

2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (16) ◽  
pp. 2971-2980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Mann ◽  
Megan K. DeMart ◽  
Braidy May ◽  
Corey P. Causey ◽  
Bryan Knuckley
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Amino Acid Side Chain ◽  
Histone H4 ◽  
Peptide Substrates ◽  
Protein Arginine Methyltransferases ◽  
Protein Substrates ◽  
Arginine Residues ◽  
Natural Peptide ◽  
Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 1

Methylation of arginine residues occurs on a number of protein substrates, most notably the N-terminal tails of histones, and is catalyzed by a family of enzymes called the protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). This modification can lead to transcriptional activation or repression of cancer-related genes. To date, a number of inhibitors, based on natural peptide substrates, have been developed for the PRMT family of enzymes. However, because peptides are easily degraded in vivo, the utility of these inhibitors as potential therapeutics is limited. The use of peptoids, which are peptide mimetics where the amino acid side chain is attached to the nitrogen in the amide backbone instead of the α-carbon, may circumvent the problems associated with peptide degradation. Given the structural similarities, peptoid scaffolds may provide enhanced stability, while preserving the mechanism of action. Herein, we have identified that peptoids based on natural peptide substrates are not catalyzed to the product by PRMT1, but instead are inhibitors of this enzyme. Reducing the length of the peptoid reduces inhibition and suggest the residues distal from the site of modification are important for binding. Furthermore, a positive charge on the N-terminus helps promote binding and improves inhibition. Selectivity among family members is likely possible based on inhibition being moderately selective for PRMT1 over PRMT5 and provides a scaffold that can be used to develop pharmaceuticals against this class of enzymes.

scholarly journals Protein Arginine Methylation in Parasitic Protozoa

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1013-1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Fisk ◽  
Laurie K. Read
Keyword(s):  
Rna Processing ◽  
Antigenic Variation ◽  
Arginine Methylation ◽  
Parasitic Protozoa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Protein Arginine Methyltransferases ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Dna Replication And Repair ◽  
Arginine Residues ◽  
Multiple Species

ABSTRACT Protozoa constitute the earliest branch of the eukaryotic lineage, and several groups of protozoans are serious parasites of humans and other animals. Better understanding of biochemical pathways that are either in common with or divergent from those of higher eukaryotes is integral in the defense against these parasites. In yeast and humans, the posttranslational methylation of arginine residues in proteins affects myriad cellular processes, including transcription, RNA processing, DNA replication and repair, and signal transduction. The protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) that catalyze these reactions, which are unique to the eukaryotic kingdom of organisms, first become evident in protozoa. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of arginine methylation in multiple species of parasitic protozoa, including Trichomonas , Entamoeba , Toxoplasma , Plasmodium , and Trypanosoma spp., and discuss how arginine methylation may play important and unique roles in each type of parasite. We mine available genomic and transcriptomic data to inventory the families of PRMTs in different parasites and the changes in their abundance during the life cycle. We further review the limited functional studies on the roles of arginine methylation in parasites, including epigenetic regulation in Apicomplexa and RNA processing in trypanosomes. Interestingly, each of the parasites considered herein has significantly differing sets of PRMTs, and we speculate on the importance of this diversity in aspects of parasite biology, such as differentiation and antigenic variation.

scholarly journals Prmt7 is dispensable in tissue culture models for adipogenic differentiation

F1000Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Jie Hu ◽  
Saïd Sif ◽  
Anthony N. Imbalzano
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Tissue Culture ◽  
Adipogenic Differentiation ◽  
Arginine Methylation ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Protein Arginine Methyltransferases ◽  
Over Expression ◽  
Core Histones ◽  
Culture Models ◽  
Arginine Residues

Protein arginine methylation is a common posttranslational modification that has been implicated in numerous biological processes including gene expression. The mammalian genome encodes nine protein arginine methyltransferases (Prmts) that catalyze monomethylation, asymmetric dimethylation, and symmetric dimethylation on arginine residues. Protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (Prmt7) is categorized as a type II and type III enzyme that produces symmetric dimethylated arginine and monomethylated arginine, respectively. However, the biological role of Prmt7 is not well characterized. We previously showed that Prmt5, a type II Prmt that associates with Brg1-based SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, is required for adipocyte differentiation. Since Prmt7 also associates with Brg1-based SWI/SNF complex and modifies core histones, we hypothesized that Prmt7 might play a role in transcriptional regulation of adipogenesis. In the present study, we determined that the expression of Prmt7 did not change throughout adipogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal cells. Knockdown or over-expression of Prmt7 had no effect on lipid accumulation or adipogenic gene expression in differentiating C3H10T1/2 cells or in C/EBPα-reprogrammed NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Based on these results, we conclude that Prmt7, unlike Prmt5, is dispensable for adipogenic differentiation in tissue culture models.

scholarly journals Functional study of Leishmania braziliensis protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) reveals that PRMT1 and PRMT5 are required for macrophage infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Lorenzon ◽  
Jose Carlos Quilles ◽  
Gustavo Daniel Campagnaro ◽  
Leticia Almeida ◽  
Flavio Protasio Veras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Arginine Methylation ◽  
Functional Study ◽  
Leishmania Braziliensis ◽  
Macrophage Infection ◽  
Protein Arginine Methyltransferases ◽  
Life Cycle Stages ◽  
Arginine Residues

In trypanosomatids, regulation of gene expression occurs mainly at the posttranscriptional level, and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key players in determining the fates of transcripts. RBPs are major targets of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), which posttranslationally regulate the RNA-binding capacity and other macromolecular interactions of RBPs by transferring methyl groups to protein arginine residues. Herein, we present the results of a study that functionally characterized the five predicted PRMTs in Leishmania braziliensis by gene knockout and endogenous protein HA tagging using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. We report that arginine methylation profiles vary among Leishmania species and that target protein methylation changes across different L. braziliensis life cycle stages, with higher PRMT expression in the promastigote stages than in the axenic amastigote stage. Knockout of some of the L. braziliensis PRMTs led to significant changes in global arginine methylation patterns without affecting promastigote axenic growth. Deletion of either PRMT1 or PRMT3 disrupted most type I PRMT activity, resulting in a global increase in monomethyl arginine (MMA) levels, which is mainly catalyzed by PRMT7. Putative targets and/or PRMT-interacting proteins were identified by coimmunoprecipitation using HA-tagged PRMTs, revealing a network of target RBPs and suggesting functional interactions between them and a relevant participation in epigenetic control of gene expression. Finally, we demonstrate that L. braziliensis PRMT1 and PRMT5 are required for efficient macrophage infection in vitro, and that in the absence of PRMT1 and PRMT5, axenic amastigote proliferation is impaired. The results indicate that arginine methylation is modulated across life cycle stages in L. braziliensis and show possible functional overlap and cooperation among the different PRMTs in targeting proteins. Overall, our data suggest important regulatory roles of these proteins throughout the L. braziliensis life cycle, showing that arginine methylation is important for parasite-host cell interactions.

scholarly journals Histone arginine methylations: their roles in chromatin dynamics and transcriptional regulation

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Litt ◽  
Yi Qiu ◽  
Suming Huang
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Repression ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Arginine Methylation ◽  
Nuclear Proteins ◽  
Lysine Methylation ◽  
Histone Tails ◽  
Dynamic Regulation ◽  
Chromatin Dynamics ◽  
Arginine Residues ◽  
Histone Arginine Methylation

PRMTs (protein arginine N-methyltransferases) specifically modify the arginine residues of key cellular and nuclear proteins as well as histone substrates. Like lysine methylation, transcriptional repression or activation is dependent upon the site and type of arginine methylation on histone tails. Recent discoveries imply that histone arginine methylation is an important modulator of dynamic chromatin regulation and transcriptional controls. However, under the shadow of lysine methylation, the roles of histone arginine methylation have been under-explored. The present review focuses on the roles of histone arginine methylation in the regulation of gene expression, and the interplays between histone arginine methylation, histone acetylation, lysine methylation and chromatin remodelling factors. In addition, we discuss the dynamic regulation of arginine methylation by arginine demethylases, and how dysregulation of PRMTs and their activities are linked to human diseases such as cancer.

Yeast Hmt1 catalyses asymmetric dimethylation of histone H3 arginine 2 in vitro

2015 ◽  
Vol 467 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-Tao Li ◽  
Ting Gong ◽  
Zhen Zhou ◽  
Yu-Ting Liu ◽  
Xiongwen Cao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Histone H3 ◽  
Type I ◽  
Histone H4 ◽  
Methyltransferase Activity ◽  
Protein Arginine Methyltransferases ◽  
Arginine Residues ◽  
Mrna Binding ◽  
Complementary Mechanism

Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are a family of enzymes that can methylate protein arginine residues. PRMTs’ substrates include histones and a variety of non-histone proteins. Previous studies have shown that yeast Hmt1 is a type I PRMT and methylates histone H4 arginine 3 and several mRNA-binding proteins. Hmt1 forms dimers or oligomers, but how dimerization or oligomerization affects its activity remains largely unknown. We now report that Hmt1 can methylate histone H3 arginine 2 (H3R2) in vitro. The dimerization but not hexamerization is essential for Hmt1’s activity. Interestingly, the methyltransferase activity of Hmt1 on histone H3R2 requires reciprocal contributions from two Hmt1 molecules. Our results suggest an intermolecular trans-complementary mechanism by which Hmt1 dimer methylates its substrates.

Determination of Factor XIII Activity and of Factor XIII Inhibitors Using an Ammonium-Sensitive Electrode

1983 ◽  
Vol 50 (02) ◽  
pp. 563-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Hellstern ◽  
K Schilz ◽  
G von Blohn ◽  
E Wenzel
Keyword(s):  
Factor Xiii ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
The Other ◽  
Activity Measurement ◽  
Factor Xiii Deficiency ◽  
Assay Procedure ◽  
Stabilization Factor ◽  
Release Method ◽  
Sensitive Electrode

SummaryAn assay for rapid factor XIII activity measurement has been developed based on the determination of the ammonium released during fibrin stabilization. Factor XIII was activated by thrombin and calcium. Ammonium was measured by an ammonium-sensitive electrode. It was demonstrated that the assay procedure yields accurate and precise results and that factor XIII-catalyzed fibrin stabilization can be measured kinetically. The amount of ammonium released during the first 90 min of fibrin stabilization was found to be 7.8 ± 0.5 moles per mole fibrinogen, which is in agreement with the findings of other authors. In 15 normal subjects and in 15 patients suffering from diseases with suspected factor XIII deficiency there was a satisfactory correlation between the results obtained by the “ammonium-release-method”, Bohn’s method, and the immunological assay (r1 = 0.65; r2= 0.70; p<0.01). In 3 of 5 patients with paraproteinemias the values of factor XIII activity determined by the ammonium-release method were markedly lower than those estimated by the other methods. It could be shown that inhibitor mechanisms were responsible for these discrepancies.

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