Increased methylation of the cytosolic 20-kD protein is accompanied by liver regeneration in a hepatectomized rat
Experimental & Molecular Medicine
;
: 85-92, 2004.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-190969
ABSTRACT
Arginine methylation has been implicated in the signal transduction pathway leading to cell growth. Here we show that a regenerating rat liver following partial hepatectomy exhibited elevated methyltransferase activity as shown by increased methylation of a subset of endogenous proteins in vitro. The 20-kDa protein was shown to be a major cytosolic protein undergoing methylation in regenerating hepatocytes. Methylation of the 20-kDa protein peaked at 1 d following partial hepatectomy, which gradually declined to a basal level within the next 14 d. Likewise, methylation of exogenously added bulk histones followed the similar time kinetics as the 20-kDa protein, reflecting time-dependent changes in methyltransferase activity in regenerating hepatocytes. Presence of exogenously added bulk histone in the in vitro methylation assay resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of methylation of the 20-kDa protein. All the histone subtypes tested, histone 1, 2A, 2B, 3 or 4, were able to inhibit methylation of the 20-kDa protein while addition of cytochrome C, a-lactalbumin, carbonic anhydrase, bovine serum albumin, and g globulin minimally affected methylation of the 20-kDa protein. Since methylation of the 20-kDa protein preceded proliferation of hepatocytes upon partial hepatectomy, it is tempting to speculate that the methylated 20-kDa protein by activated histone-specific methyltransferase may be involved in an early signal critical for liver regeneration.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Subcellular Fractions
/
Histones
/
Signal Transduction
/
Proteins
/
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
/
Protein Isoforms
/
Cytoplasm
/
Hepatectomy
/
Liver Regeneration
/
Methylation
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Experimental & Molecular Medicine
Year:
2004
Type:
Article
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