Correlated alterations in genome organization, histone methylation, and DNA-lamin A/C interactions in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome

Genome Res. 2013 Feb;23(2):260-9. doi: 10.1101/gr.138032.112. Epub 2012 Nov 14.

Abstract

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a premature aging disease that is frequently caused by a de novo point mutation at position 1824 in LMNA. This mutation activates a cryptic splice donor site in exon 11, and leads to an in-frame deletion within the prelamin A mRNA and the production of a dominant-negative lamin A protein, known as progerin. Here we show that primary HGPS skin fibroblasts experience genome-wide correlated alterations in patterns of H3K27me3 deposition, DNA-lamin A/C associations, and, at late passages, genome-wide loss of spatial compartmentalization of active and inactive chromatin domains. We further demonstrate that the H3K27me3 changes associate with gene expression alterations in HGPS cells. Our results support a model that the accumulation of progerin in the nuclear lamina leads to altered H3K27me3 marks in heterochromatin, possibly through the down-regulation of EZH2, and disrupts heterochromatin-lamina interactions. These changes may result in transcriptional misregulation and eventually trigger the global loss of spatial chromatin compartmentalization in late passage HGPS fibroblasts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genome, Human*
  • Heterochromatin / metabolism
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lamins / metabolism*
  • Methylation
  • Progeria / genetics*
  • Progeria / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Heterochromatin
  • Histones
  • Lamins

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE41764