The anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome ubiquitylates histone H2B on the promoter during UbcH10 transactivation

Among various post-translational modifications of histones, ubiquitylation plays a crucial role in transcription regulation. Histone mono-ubiquitylation by RING finger motif-containing ubiquitin ligases is documented in this respect. The RING finger ligases primarily regulate the cell cycle, where the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) takes charge as mitotic ubiquitin machinery. Reportedly, APC/C participates in transcriptional activation of the ubiquitin carrier protein UbcH10. However, the ubiquitylation activity of APC/C on the UBCH10 promoter remains elusive. This study shows that APC/C, with its adapter protein Cdc20, catalyses mono-ubiquitylation of Lysine-120 in histone 2B on the UBCH10 promoter. This study also identified a cell-cycle-specific pattern of this modification. Finally, APC/C-driven crosstalk of acetylation and ubiquitylation was found operational on UBCH10 trans-regulation. Together, these findings suggest a role for APC/C catalysed promoter ubiquitylation in managing transcription of cell cycle regulatory genes.

Automated summary

This study investigates the role of histone ubiquitylation in transcription regulation, particularly the mono-ubiquitylation of histone 2B by RING finger motif-containing ubiquitin ligases. The study shows that the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), along with its adapter protein Cdc20, catalyses the mono-ubiquitylation of Lysine-120 on the UBCH10 promoter. The study also uncovers a cell-cycle-specific pattern of this modification and suggests a crosstalk between acetylation and ubiquitylation in UBCH10 trans-regulation.