PCAF acetylates Runx2 and promotes osteoblast differentiation.

Osteoblasts play a crucial role in bone formation. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in osteoblast differentiation remain largely unclear. Runt-related gene 2 (Runx2) is a master transcriptional factor for osteoblast differentiation. Here we reported that p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) directly binds to Runx2 and acetylates Runx2, leading to an increase in its transcriptional activity. Upregulation of PCAF in MC3T3-E1 cells increases the expression of osteogenic marker genes including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (Ocn), and Osteopontin (Opn), and ALP activity was stimulated as well. Consequently, the mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells was remarkably improved by PCAF. In contrast, PCAF knockdown decreases the mRNA levels of ALP, Ocn, and Opn. ALP activity and the mineralized area were attenuated under PCAF knockdown conditions. These results indicate that PCAF is an important regulator for promoting osteoblast differentiation via acetylation modification of Runx2.

Citation

Chao-Yang Wang, Shu-Feng Yang, Zhong Wang, Jun-Ming Tan, Shun-Min Xing, De-Chun Chen, Sheng-Ming Xu, Wen Yuan. PCAF acetylates Runx2 and promotes osteoblast differentiation. Journal of bone and mineral metabolism. 2013 Jul;31(4):381-9

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PMID: 23468178

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