Identification of a novel histone H3 specific protease activity in nuclei of chicken liver.

Evolutionary conserved histone proteins play a very important role in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression by undergoing post translational modifications within the tail regions. However, their role in tissue-specific gene expression and development remains unclear. In this study, we provide evidence for in vivo tissue-specific proteolytic cleavage of histone H3 in the liver of adult white Leghorn chickens, which we believe to be regulated by tissue-specific protease activity and epigenetic markers. The cleavage of histone H3 in the liver of adult chickens is very unique, and can serve as a model for studying tissue-specific changes in chromatin organization and gene expression. For the first time, we have identified and partially purified histone H3-specific protease activity that is distinct from histone H3 protease activities recently reported. Together, our data provide evidence of proteolytic processing and identification of protease activity that is specific to histone H3 in the liver of adult chickens, which may be involved in the regulation of gene expression during development, aging, and age-associated diseases.

Multifunctional Ebselen drug functions through the activation of DNA damage response and alterations in nuclear proteins.

Several studies have demonstrated that Ebselen is an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agent. Contrary to this, studies have also shown a high degree of cellular toxicity associated with Ebselen usage, the underlying mechanism of which remains less understood. In this study we have attempted to identify a possible molecular mechanism behind the above by investigating the effects of Ebselen on Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Significant growth arrest was documented in yeast cells exposed to Ebselen similar to that seen in presence of DNA damaging agents (including methyl methane sulfonate [MMS] and hydroxy urea [HU]). Furthermore, mutations in specific lysine residues in the histone H3 tail (H3 K56R) resulted in increased sensitivity of yeast cells to Ebselen presumably due to alterations in post-translational modifications of histone proteins towards regulating replication and DNA damage repair. Our findings suggest that Ebselen functions through activation of DNA damage response, alterations in histone modifications, activation of checkpoint kinase pathway and derepression of ribonucleotide reductases (DNA repair genes) which to the best of our knowledge is being reported for the first time. Interestingly subsequent to Ebselen exposure there were changes in global yeast protein expression and specific histone modifications, identification of which is expected to reveal a fundamental cellular mechanism underlying the action of Ebselen. Taken together these observations will help to redesign Ebselen-based therapy in clinical trials.