Crosstalk between C/EBPβ phosphorylation, arginine methylation, and SWI/SNF/Mediator implies an indexing transcription factor code

Cellular signalling cascades regulate the activity of transcription factors that convert extracellular information into gene regulation. C/EBP beta is a ras/MAPkinase signal-sensitive transcription factor that regulates genes involved in metabolism, proliferation, differentiation, immunity, senescence, and tumourigenesis. The protein arginine methyltransferase 4 PRMT4/CARM1 interacts with C/EBP beta and dimethylates a conserved arginine residue (R3) in the C/EBP beta N-terminal transactivation domain, as identified by mass spectrometry of cell-derived C/EBP beta. Phosphorylation of the C/EBP beta regulatory domain by ras/MAPkinase signalling abrogates the interaction between C/EBP beta and PRMT4/CARM1. Differential proteomic screening, protein interaction studies, and mutational analysis revealed that methylation of R3 constraines interaction with SWI/SNF and Mediator complexes. Mutation of the R3 methylation site alters endogenous myeloid gene expression and adipogenic differentiation. Thus, phosphorylation of the transcription factor C/EBP beta couples ras signalling to arginine methylation and regulates the interaction of C/EBP beta with epigenetic gene regulatory protein complexes during cell differentiation. The EMBO Journal (2010) 29, 1105-1115. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2010.3; Published online 28 January 2010