Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) regulates RNA polymerase II serine 2 phosphorylation in human CD4+ T cells

J Biol Chem. 2012 Dec 14;287(51):43137-55. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.413047. Epub 2012 Oct 19.

Abstract

Transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is regulated by positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) in association with bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4). We used genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing in primary human CD4+ T cells to reveal that BRD4 co-localizes with Ser-2-phosphorylated Pol II (Pol II Ser-2) at both enhancers and promoters of active genes. Disruption of bromodomain-histone acetylation interactions by JQ1, a small-molecule bromodomain inhibitor, resulted in decreased BRD4 binding, reduced Pol II Ser-2, and reduced expression of lineage-specific genes in primary human CD4+ T cells. A large number of JQ1-disrupted BRD4 binding regions exhibited diacetylated H4 (lysine 5 and -8) and H3K27 acetylation (H3K27ac), which correlated with the presence of histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases. Genes associated with BRD4/H3K27ac co-occupancy exhibited significantly higher activity than those associated with H3K27ac or BRD4 binding alone. Comparison of BRD4 binding in T cells and in human embryonic stem cells revealed that enhancer BRD4 binding sites were predominantly lineage-specific. Our findings suggest that BRD4-driven Pol II phosphorylation at serine 2 plays an important role in regulating lineage-specific gene transcription in human CD4+ T cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Binding Sites
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / enzymology*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Lineage
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic / genetics
  • Genome, Human / genetics
  • HeLa Cells
  • Histone Acetyltransferases / metabolism
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Lysine / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Phosphoserine / metabolism*
  • Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Transport
  • RNA Polymerase II / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • BRD4 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Histones
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Phosphoserine
  • Histone Acetyltransferases
  • Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B
  • RNA Polymerase II
  • Histone Deacetylases
  • Lysine

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE33281