Brd4 and JMJD6-Associated Anti-Pause Enhancers in Regulation of Transcriptional Pause Release

• Published in: Cell Vol. 155; no. 7; pp. 1581 - 1595
• Main Authors: Liu, Wen, Ma, Qi, Wong, Kaki, Li, Wenbo, Ohgi, Kenny, Zhang, Jie, Aggarwal, Aneel K., Rosenfeld, Michael G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 19.12.2013
• Subjects: DNA-directed RNA polymerase; Enhancer Elements, Genetic; genes; HEK293 Cells; histones; homeostasis; Humans; Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases - metabolism; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Promoter Regions, Genetic; RNA Polymerase II - metabolism; RNA, Small Nuclear - metabolism; small nuclear RNA; transcription (genetics); Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic
• ISSN: 0092-8674; 1097-4172
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.10.056

Distal enhancers characterized by the H3K4me1 mark play critical roles in developmental and transcriptional programs. However, potential roles of specific distal regulatory elements in regulating RNA polymerase II (Pol II) promoter-proximal pause release remain poorly investigated. Here, we report that a unique cohort of jumonji C-domain-containing protein 6 (JMJD6) and bromodomain-containing protein 4 (Brd4) cobound distal enhancers, termed anti-pause enhancers (A-PEs), regulate promoter-proximal pause release of a large subset of transcription units via long-range interactions. Brd4-dependent JMJD6 recruitment on A-PEs mediates erasure of H4R3me2(s), which is directly read by 7SK snRNA, and decapping/demethylation of 7SK snRNA, ensuring the dismissal of the 7SK snRNA/HEXIM inhibitory complex. The interactions of both JMJD6 and Brd4 with the P-TEFb complex permit its activation and pause release of regulated coding genes. The functions of JMJD6/ Brd4-associated dual histone and RNA demethylase activity on anti-pause enhancers have intriguing implications for these proteins in development, homeostasis, and disease. [Display omitted] •Anti-pause enhancers (A-PEs) regulate Pol II promoter-proximal pause release•A-PEs-associated JMJD6 exhibits dual H4R3me2(S) and 7SK demethylase activities•7SK snRNA is a “reader” of H4R3me2(S)•A-PEs loop with their cognate gene promoters to regulate Pol II pause release JMJD6 and Brd4 protein complexes are recruited to certain enhancers to release repressive machinery imposed on the P-TEFb complex, therefore releasing promoter pause of RNA polymerase II. This cohort of enhancers was termed as anti-pause enhancers.