Bromodomain protein BRD4 is required for estrogen receptor-dependent enhancer activation and gene transcription.

Journal article

The estrogen receptor α (ERα) controls cell proliferation and tumorigenesis by recruiting various cofactors to estrogen response elements (EREs) to control gene transcription. A deeper understanding of these transcriptional mechanisms may uncover therapeutic targets for ERα-dependent cancers. We show that BRD4 regulates ERα-induced gene expression by affecting elongation-associated phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and histone H2B monoubiquitination. Consistently, BRD4 activity is required for proliferation of ER(+) breast and endometrial cancer cells and uterine growth in mice. Genome-wide studies revealed an enrichment of BRD4 on transcriptional start sites of active genes and a requirement of BRD4 for H2B monoubiquitination in the transcribed region of estrogen-responsive genes. Importantly, we demonstrate that BRD4 occupancy on distal EREs enriched for H3K27ac is required for recruitment and elongation of RNAPII on EREs and the production of ERα-dependent enhancer RNAs. These results uncover BRD4 as a central regulator of ERα function and potential therapeutic target.

Authors: Nagarajan, S; Hossan, T; Alawi, M; Najafova, Z; Indenbirken, D

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Cell Press
• Journal: Cell reports
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 460-469
• Publication date: 2014-07-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.06.016
• EISSN: 2211-1247
• ISSN: 2211-1247
• Language: English