Methyl-H3K9-binding protein MPP8 mediates E-cadherin gene silencing and promotes tumour cell motility and invasion.

ABSTRACT: H3K9 methylation has been linked to a variety of biological processes including position-effect variegation, heterochromatin formation and transcriptional regulation. To further understand the function of H3K9 methylation, we have identified and characterized MPP8 as a methyl-H3K9-binding protein. MPP8 displays an elevated expression pattern in various human carcinoma cells, whereas knocking-down MPP8 results in the loss of cellular mesenchymal marker as well as the reduction of tumour cell migration and invasiveness, suggesting that MPP8 contributes to tumour progression. Following characterization demonstrates that MPP8 targets the E-cadherin gene promoter and modulates the expression of this key regulator of cell behaviour and tumour progression through its methyl-H3K9 binding. Furtherm

SUBMITTER: Kokura K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2982762 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature