CDK1-dependent phosphorylation of EZH2 suppresses methylation of H3K27 and promotes osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Yongkun Wei, Ya Huey Chen, Long Yuan Li, Jingyu Lang, Su Peng Yeh, Bin Shi, Cheng Chieh Yang, Jer Yen Yang, Chun Yi Lin, Chien Chen Lai, Mien Chie Hung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

327 Scopus citations

Abstract

Enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) is the catalytic subunit of Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and catalyses the trimethylation of histone H3 on Lys 27 (H3K27), which represses gene transcription. EZH2 enhances cancer-cell invasiveness and regulates stem cell differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that EZH2 can be phosphorylated at Thr 487 through activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). The phosphorylation of EZH2 at Thr 487 disrupted EZH2 binding with the other PRC2 components SUZ12 and EED, and thereby inhibited EZH2 methyltransferase activity, resulting in inhibition of cancer-cell invasion. In human mesenchymal stem cells, activation of CDK1 promoted mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts through phosphorylation of EZH2 at Thr 487. These findings define a signalling link between CDK1 and EZH2 that may have an important role in diverse biological processes, including cancer-cell invasion and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)87-94
Number of pages8
JournalNature cell biology
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

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