Class II histone deacetylases act as signal-responsive repressors of cardiac hypertrophy

Chun-Li Zhang, Timothy A. McKinsey, Shurong Chang, Christopher L. Antos, Joseph A Hill, Eric N Olson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

843 Scopus citations

Abstract

The heart responds to stress signals by hypertrophic growth, which is accompanied by activation of the MEF2 transcription factor and reprogramming of cardiac gene expression. We show here that class II histone deacetylases (HDACs), which repress MEF2 activity, are substrates for a stress-responsive kinase specific for conserved serines that regulate MEF2-HDAC interactions. Signal-resistant HDAC mutants lacking these phosphorylation sites are refractory to hypertrophic signaling and inhibit cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Conversely, mutant mice lacking the class II HDAC, HDAC9, are sensitized to hypertrophic signals and exhibit stress-dependent cardiomegaly. Thus, class II HDACs act as signal-responsive suppressors of the transcriptional program governing cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)479-488
Number of pages10
JournalCell
Volume110
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 23 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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