[PDF][PDF] The aurora B kinase and the polycomb protein ring1B combine to regulate active promoters in quiescent lymphocytes

A Frangini, M Sjöberg, M Roman-Trufero… - Molecular cell, 2013 - cell.com
Molecular cell, 2013cell.com
Reversible cellular quiescence is critical for developmental processes in metazoan
organisms and is characterized by a reduction in cell size and transcriptional activity. We
show that the Aurora B kinase and the polycomb protein Ring1B have essential roles in
regulating transcriptionally active genes in quiescent lymphocytes. Ring1B and Aurora B
bind to a wide range of active promoters in resting B and T cells. Conditional knockout of
either protein results in reduced transcription and binding of RNA Pol II to promoter regions …
Summary
Reversible cellular quiescence is critical for developmental processes in metazoan organisms and is characterized by a reduction in cell size and transcriptional activity. We show that the Aurora B kinase and the polycomb protein Ring1B have essential roles in regulating transcriptionally active genes in quiescent lymphocytes. Ring1B and Aurora B bind to a wide range of active promoters in resting B and T cells. Conditional knockout of either protein results in reduced transcription and binding of RNA Pol II to promoter regions and decreased cell viability. Aurora B phosphorylates histone H3S28 at active promoters in resting B cells as well as inhibiting Ring1B-mediated ubiquitination of histone H2A and enhancing binding and activity of the USP16 deubiquitinase at transcribed genes. Our results identify a mechanism for regulating transcription in quiescent cells that has implications for epigenetic regulation of the choice between proliferation and quiescence.
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