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DOI

The formation of self-perpetuating protein aggregates such as amyloids is associated with various diseases and provides a basis for transmissible (infectious or heritable) protein isoforms (prions). Many human proteins involved in the regulation of transcription contain potentially amyloidogenic regions. Here, it is shown that short N-terminal isoforms of the human protein PHC3, a component of the chromatin-modifying complex PRC1 (Polycomb repressive complex 1), can form prion-like aggregates in yeast assays, exhibit amyloid properties in the E. coli-based C-DAG assay, and produce detergent-resistant aggregates when ectopically expressed in cultured human cells. Moreover, aggregates of short isoforms can sequester the full-length PHC3 protein, causing its accumulation in the cytosol instead of the nucleus. The introduction of an aggregating short PHC3 isoform alters the transcriptional profile of cultured human cells. It is proposed that the aggregation of short isoforms is involved in the feedback downregulation of PRC1 activity, leading to more open chromatin configuration.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1512
Number of pages21
JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume26
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 11 Feb 2025

    Research areas

  • Humans, Protein Isoforms/metabolism, Chromatin/metabolism, Prions/metabolism, Protein Aggregates, Polycomb-Group Proteins/metabolism, amyloid, C-DAG, prion, chromatin, PHC3

    Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)

ID: 132391957