CaM kinase II selectively signals to histone deacetylase 4 during cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

Johannes Backs, Kunhua Song, Svetlana Bezprozvannaya, Shurong Chang, Eric N. Olson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

424 Scopus citations

Abstract

Class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate a variety of cellular processes, including cardiac growth, bone development, and specification of skeletal muscle fiber type. Multiple serine/threonine kinases control the subcellular localization of these HDACs by phosphorylation of common serine residues, but whether certain class IIa HDACs respond selectively to specific kinases has not been determined. Here we show that calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) signals specifically to HDAC4 by binding to a unique docking site that is absent in other class IIa HDACs. Phosphorylation of HDAC4 by CaMKII promotes nuclear export and prevents nuclear import of HDAC4, with consequent derepression of HDAC target genes. In cardiomyocytes, CaMKII phosphorylation of HDAC4 results in hypertrophic growth, which can be blocked by a signal-resistant HDAC4 mutant. These findings reveal a central role for HDAC4 in CaMKII signaling pathways and have implications for the control of gene expression by calcium signaling in a variety of cell types.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1853-1864
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation
Volume116
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 3 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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