The HIF complex recruits the histone methyltransferase SET1B to activate specific hypoxia-inducible genes

The histone H3K4 methyltransferase SET1B is recruited to a subset of hypoxia-inducible genes by the HIF complex. Loss of SET1B reduces HIF transcriptional activity in hypoxia and impairs tumor formation in xenograft models. Hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) are fundamental to cellular adaptation to low oxygen levels, but it is unclear how they interact with chromatin and activate their target genes. Here, we use genome-wide mutagenesis to identify genes involved in HIF transcriptional activity, and define a requirement for the histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferase SET1B. SET1B loss leads to a selective reduction in transcriptional activation of HIF target genes, resulting in impaired cell growth, angiogenesis and tumor establishment in SET1B-deficient xenografts. Mechanistically, we show that SET1B accumulates on chromatin in hypoxia, and is recruited to HIF target genes by the HIF complex. The selective induction of H3K4 trimethylation at HIF target loci is both HIF- and SET1B-dependent and, when impaired, correlates with decreased promoter acetylation and gene expression. Together, these findings show SET1B as a determinant of site-specific histone methylation and provide insight into how HIF target genes are differentially regulated.

Automated summary

The histone H3K4 methyltransferase SET1B plays a crucial role in the transcriptional activity of HIF target genes, and its loss results in impaired cell growth and tumor formation. Experimental findings demonstrate that SET1B accumulates on chromatin in hypoxia and is recruited to HIF target genes by the HIF complex.