Proteomic analysis of SETD6 interacting proteins.

SETD6 (SET-domain-containing protein 6) is a mono-methyltransferase that has been shown to methylate RelA and H2AZ. Using a proteomic approach we recently identified several new SETD6 substrates. To identify novel SETD6 interacting proteins, SETD6 was immunoprecipitated (IP) from Human erythromyeloblastoid leukemia K562 cells. SETD6 binding proteins were subjected to mass-spectrometry analysis resulting in 115 new SETD6 binding candidates. STRING database was used to map the SETD6 interactome network. Network enrichment analysis of biological processes with Gene Ontology (GO) database, identified three major groups; metabolic processes, muscle contraction and protein folding.

PAK4 Methylation by SETD6 Promotes the Activation of the Wnt/ß-Catenin Pathway.

Lysine methylation of non-histone proteins has emerged as a key regulator of many cellular functions. Although less studied than other post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and acetylation, the number of known methylated non-histone proteins is rapidly expanding. We have identified the p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) as a new substrate for methylation by the protein lysine methyltransferase SETD6. Our data demonstrate that SETD6 methylates PAK4 bothin vitroand at chromatin in cells. Interestingly, depletion of SETD6 in various cellular systems significantly hinders the activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin target genes. PAK4 was recently shown to regulate ß-catenin signaling, and we show that SETD6 is a key mediator of this pathway. In the presence of SETD6, the physical interaction between PAK4 and ß-catenin is dramatically increased, leading to a significant increase in the transcription of ß-catenin target genes. Taken together, our results uncover a new regulatory layer of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling cascade and provide new insight into SETD6 biology.

SETD6 is a negative regulator of oxidative stress response.

The protein methyltransferase SETD6 is a key regulator of proliferation and inflammatory processes. However, the role of SETD6 in the regulation of additional cell signaling pathways has not been well studied. Here we show that SETD6 is a negative regulator of the oxidative stress response. Depletion of SETD6 from cells results in elevated Nrf2 levels and a significant increase in Nrf2 antioxidant target gene expression. Using proteomic tools, we uncovered a novel interaction between SETD6 and the oxidative stress sensor DJ1, a protein required for Nrf2-dependent transcription of antioxidant target genes. We show that SETD6 binds DJ1 both in-vitro and in cells but does not methylate DJ1. Under basal conditions, SETD6 and DJ1 are associated at chromatin. Through this interaction, SETD6 inhibits DJ1 activity, which in turn leads to the repression of Nrf2-dependent transcription. In response to oxidative stress, the transcription of Nrf2 antioxidant genes increases. We here show that under this condition, SETD6 mRNA and protein levels are reduced, leading to elevation in Nrf2 expression level and to a weaken interaction between SETD6 and DJ1 at chromatin. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that SETD6 negatively regulates the Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress response through a physical and catalytically independent interaction with DJ1 at chromatin.