Purification and characterization of the human elongator complex

J Biol Chem. 2002 Jan 25;277(4):3047-52. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110445200. Epub 2001 Nov 19.

Abstract

Human Elongator complex was purified to virtual homogeneity from HeLa cell extracts. The purified factor can exist in two forms: a six-subunit complex, holo-Elongator, which has histone acetyltransferase activity directed against histone H3 and H4, and a three-subunit core form, which does not have histone acetyltransferase activity despite containing the catalytic Elp3 subunit. Elongator is a component of early elongation complexes formed in HeLa nuclear extracts and can interact directly with RNA polymerase II in solution. Several human homologues of the yeast Elongator subunits were identified as subunits of the human Elongator complex, including StIP1 (STAT-interacting protein 1) and IKAP (IKK complex-associated protein). Mutations in IKAP can result in the severe human disorder familial dysautonomia, raising the possibility that this disease might be due to compromised Elongator function and therefore could be a transcription disorder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetyltransferases / chemistry*
  • Acetyltransferases / isolation & purification*
  • Acetyltransferases / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Dysautonomia, Familial / genetics
  • Dysautonomia, Familial / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Histone Acetyltransferases
  • Histones / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Insecta
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA Polymerase II / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • ELP2 protein, human
  • Elp1 protein, human
  • Histones
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors
  • Acetyltransferases
  • Histone Acetyltransferases
  • RNA Polymerase II