Myt1 family recruits histone deacetylase to regulate neural transcription

The myelin transcription factor 1 (Myt1) gene family is comprised of three zinc finger genes [Myt1, Myt1L (Myt1-Like) and NZF3] of the structurally unique CCHHC class that are expressed predominantly in the developing CNS. To understand the mechanism by which this family regulates neural differentiation, we searched for interaction partners. In both yeast and a mammalian two-hybrid system, Myt1 and Myt1L interacted with Sin3B, a protein that mediates transcriptional repression by binding to histone deacetylases (HDACs). Myt1-Sin3B complexes were co-immunoprecipitated from transfected mammalian cells and included HDAC1 and HDAC2. Myt1 and Myt1L could partner with all three Sin3B isoforms, the long form (Sin3B(LF)) that includes the HDAC-binding domain, and the two short forms (Sin3B(SF293) and Sin3B(SF302)) that lack this domain and may consequently antagonize Sin3B(LF)/HDAC-mediated co-repression. Myt1 or Myt1L interactions with the HDAC-binding form of Sin3B conferred repression on a heterologous promoter. Oligodendrocytes were shown to express transcripts encoding each of the Sin3B isoforms. We present a model in which the Myt1 family of zinc finger proteins, when bound to a neural promoter, can recruit Sin3B. Depending on the relative availability of Sin3B isoforms, the Myt1 gene family may favor the silencing of genes during neural development.