Signal-dependent activation of the MEF2 transcription factor by dissociation from histone deacetylases

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.080064097
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T14:38:21Z
• Authors: Jianrong Lu; Timothy A. McKinsey; Rebekka L. Nicol; Eric N. Olson
• Keywords: Mef2; CAMK; Sp3 transcription factor; CREB-binding protein

Myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) transcription factors control muscle-specific and growth factor-inducible genes. We show that hypertrophic of cardiomyocytes in response to phenylephrine serum is accompanied by activation MEF2 through a posttranslational mechanism mediated calcium, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK), mitogen-activated (MAPK) signaling. CaMK stimulates activity dissociating class II histone deacetylases (HDACs) from the DNA-binding domain. MAPKs, which activate phosphorylation domain, maximally stimulate only when repression HDACs relieved signaling These findings identify as an endpoint for stimuli demonstrate mediates synergistic transcriptional responses MAPK pathways signal-dependent dissociation HDACs.