Subcellular localization and nucleosome specificity of yeast histone acetyltransferases

• Published in: Biochemistry (Easton) Vol. 30; no. 15; pp. 3728 - 3732
• Main Authors: Lopez-Rodas, Gerardo, Tordera, Vicente, Mateo Sanchez del Pino, M, Franco, Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 16.04.1991
• Subjects: Acetyltransferases - metabolism; Amidohydrolases - metabolism; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Nucleus - enzymology; Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Enzymes and enzyme inhibitors; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Histone Acetyltransferases; Histones - metabolism; Nucleosomes - enzymology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - enzymology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; Substrate Specificity; Transferases; Yeast; Enzyme; Cell nucleus; Nucleosome; Histone acetyltransferase; Cell fraction; Enzymatic activity; Acetylation; Histone; Localization; Column chromatography; Cytoplasm; Nuclear protein
• ISSN: 0006-2960; 1520-4995
• DOI: 10.1021/bi00229a020

We have previously reported [López-Rodas et al. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 19028-19033] that the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains four histone acetyltransferases, which can be resolved by ion-exchange chromatography, and their specificity toward yeast free histones was studied. In the present contribution we show that three of the enzymes are nuclear, type A histone acetyltransferases and they are able to acetylate nucleosome-bound histones. They differ in their histone specificity. Enzyme A1 acetylates H2A in chicken nucleosomes, although it is specific for yeast free H2B; histone acetyltransferase A2 is highly specific for H3, and histone acetyltransferase A3 preparations acetylate both H3 and H4 in nucleosomes. The fourth enzyme, which is located in the cytoplasm, does not accept nucleosomes as substrate, and it represents a canonical type B, H4-specific histone acetyltransferase. Finally, histone deacetylase activity is preferentially found in the nucleus.