Epigenetic Regulation by Nuclear Receptors

Abstract

Nuclear receptors (NRs) represent a vital class of ligand-activated transcription factors responsible for coordinately regulating the expression of genes involved in numerous biological processes. Transcriptional regulation by NRs is conducted through interactions with multiple coactivator or corepressor complexes that modify the chromatin environment to facilitate or inhibit RNA polymerase II binding and transcription initiation. In recent years, studies have identified specific biological roles for cofactors mediating NR signaling through epigenetic modifications such as acetylation and methylation of histones. Intriguingly, genome-wide analysis of NR and cofactor localization has both confirmed findings from single-gene studies and revealed new insights into the relationships between NRs, cofactors and target genes in determining gene expression. Here, we review recent developments in the understanding of epigenetic regulation by NRs across the genome within the context of the well-established background of cofactor complexes and their roles in histone modification.

KEYWORDS::

• acetyltransferase
• coactivator
• corepressor
• deacetylase
• demethylase
• epigenetics
• genome wide
• histone
• methyltransferase
• nuclear receptor

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Young International Investigator Fellowship to Christopher D Green, and grants from the China National Science Foundation (Grant # 30890033, 30588001 and 30620120433), Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (Grant # 2006CB910700), and funds from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Bai Ren Outstanding Achievement Award) to Jing-Dong J Han. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Young International Investigator Fellowship to Christopher D Green, and grants from the China National Science Foundation (Grant # 30890033, 30588001 and 30620120433), Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (Grant # 2006CB910700), and funds from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Bai Ren Outstanding Achievement Award) to Jing-Dong J Han. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.