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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Interactions between polyamines, acetylpolyamines and PCAF during histone acetylation.

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description

Polyamines are involved in several gene regulatory functions, as the transcription process. In order to clarify their effect, in an initial “in vitro” biochemical study, we considered their influence on the nuclear PCAF acetyltransferase (PCAF-HAT). In a model system, using both commercial histones and laboratory histone preparations from mammary epithelial cells, we evidenced the inhibitory effect played by 40-180 uM spermidine (Spd) versus PCAF, assayed on 250 nM histone and 40 uM acetyl-CoA. At the same concentrations N8-acetylspermidine (N8-Ac.Spd), the acetylated form of spermidine located in the nucleus, exerts a significant activating effect on the PCAF-HAT. In addition, N8-Ac.Spd seems to be a substrate donor of acetyl group for PCAF histone acetylation. A new vision is thus taking shape on non-shared effects of polyamines and acetyl-polyamines observed on PCAF-HAT activity, although acetyl-polyamines have been until now considered excretory or export forms of polyamines.