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Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are required to maintain stable repression of the homeotic genes and others throughout development. The PcG proteins ESC and E(Z) are present in a prominent 600-kDa complex as well as in a number of higher-molecular-mass complexes. Here we identify and characterize a 1-MDa ESC/E(Z) complex that is distinguished from the 600-kDa complex by the presence of the PcG protein Polycomblike (PCL) and the histone deacetylase RPD3. In addition, the 1-MDa complex shares with the 600-kDa complex the histone binding protein p55 and the PcG protein SU(Z)12. Coimmunoprecipitation assays performed on embryo extracts and gel filtration column fractions indicate that, during embryogenesis E(Z), SU(Z)12, and p55 are present in all ESC complexes, while PCL and RPD3 are associated with ESC, E(Z), SU(Z)12, and p55 only in the 1-MDa complex. Glutathione transferase pulldown assays demonstrate that RPD3 binds directly to PCL via the conserved PHD fingers of PCL and the N terminus of RPD3. PCL and E(Z) colocalize virtually completely on polytene chromosomes and are associated with a subset of RPD3 sites. As previously shown for E(Z) and RPD3, PCL and SU(Z)12 are also recruited to the insertion site of a minimal Ubx Polycomb response element transgene in vivo. Consistent with these biochemical and cytological results, Rpd3 mutations enhance the phenotypes of Pcl mutants, further indicating that RPD3 is required for PcG silencing and possibly for PCL function. These results suggest that there may be multiple ESC/E(Z) complexes with distinct functions in vivo.

In both Drosophila and vertebrates, spatially restricted expression of HOX genes is controlled by the Polycomb group (PcG) repressors. Here we characterize a novel Drosophila PcG gene, Suppressor of zeste 12 (Su(z)12). Su(z)12 mutants exhibit very strong homeotic transformations and Su(z)12 function is required throughout development to maintain the repressed state of HOX genes. Unlike most other PcG mutations, Su(z)12 mutations are strong suppressors of position-effect variegation (PEV), suggesting that Su(z)12 also functions in heterochromatin-mediated repression. Furthermore, Su(z)12 function is required for germ cell development. The Su(z)12 protein is highly conserved in vertebrates and is related to the Arabidopsis proteins EMF2, FIS2 and VRN2. Notably, EMF2 is a repressor of floral homeotic genes. These results suggest that at least some of the regulatory machinery that controls homeotic gene expression is conserved between animals and plants.

Polycomb Group (PcG) genes are known to encode a large chromatin-associated family of proteins which are involved in genomic regulation of many cellular processes. Su(z)12 is a key component in PcG silencing. It is needed for three levels of methylation of histone 3 lysine 27 in vivo in Drosophila. Here, we report that Su(z)12 may exist in different isoforms and that these isoforms are spatially and temporally regulated. The biological function of the Su(z)12-A and -B isoforms seems to be very different. For instance the transgenic Su(z)12-B and the human homolog SUZ12, but not Su(z)12-A, rescue Su(z)12 mutants. Furthermore, transgenic flies over-expressing Su(z)12-B show typical homeotic transformation phenotypes, while over-expression of Su(z)12-A does not. However, the two isoforms appears to be able to substitute for each other in some aspects. During larval and pupal stages, Su(z)12-A seems to play the main role.

Background A known cause of ALS are mutations in the SOD1 gene. There is also evidence that SOD1 may be involved in cases lacking mutations in the gene. A 50 bp deletion located 1684 bp upstream of the start codon of SOD1 has been suggested to reduce transcription of SOD1, affect enzymatic activity and to be associated with later disease onset in ALS patients. The findings have been challenged by a study of Italian ALS patients, and here we examined the 50 bp deletion in Swedish ALS patients and controls. Methods Blood samples from 543 Swedish ALS patients and 356 Swedish controls were analysed for the 50 bp deletion and for SOD1 enzymic activity. The results were related to the disease phenotype of the patients. Results The frequency of the 50 bp deletion was the same in the patient and control cohorts, and both were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium regarding the deletion. In relation to the different genotypes, no differences were detected in SOD1 enzymic activity, duration of disease, age of onset or site of onset. Conclusions When interpreting the present results together with previous results from other populations, we find it unlikely that the 50 bp deletion region has any regulatory function for the SOD1 gene, nor any effects on the phenotype of ALS., On the aetiology of ALS: A comprehensive genetic study

Our objective was to in blood samples from 3723 individuals including ALS patients without a coding SOD1 mutation and 372 control individuals characterize stabilities of mutant SOD1s, compare SOD1 enzymatic activities between patients with different genetic causes of ALS, and search for underlying causes of deviant SOD1 activities in individuals lacking SOD1 mutations. Erythrocyte SOD1 enzymatic activities normalized to hemoglobin content were determined. Coding SOD1 sequences were analyzed by Sanger sequencing, copy number variations by fragment length analysis and by TaqMan Assay. Hemoglobin disorders were searched for. Of the 46 SOD1 mutations found, ¾ caused severe destabilization of the mutant protein but in ¼ SOD1 was essentially physically stable. Mutations producing structural changes all caused halved SOD activities. There were no differences in SOD1 activities between controls and patients without any detected SOD1 mutations or patients with C9ORF72HRE or TBK1 mutations. In the low and high SOD1 activity groups no deviations were found in exon copy numbers and intron gross structures. Also, no uncommon variants in exon-flanking sequences were detected. Thalassemias and iron deficiency anemia were associated with increased SOD1 activity/hemoglobin ratios. In conclusion, adjunct erythrocyte SOD activity analysis is of value to signal the presence of exon and splice-site-intron mutations that influence the SOD1 structure.

Polycomb Group (PcG) genes are known to encode a large chromatin-associated family of proteins which are involved in genomic regulation of many cellular processes. Su(z)12 is a key component in PcG silencing. It is needed for three levels of methylation of histone 3 lysine 27 in vivo in Drosophila. Here, we report that Su(z)12 may exist in different isoforms and that these isoforms are spatially and temporally regulated. The biological function of the Su(z)12-A and -B isoforms seems to be very different. For instance the transgenic Su(z)12-B and the human homolog SUZ12, but not Su(z)12-A, rescue Su(z)12 mutants. Furthermore, transgenic flies over-expressing Su(z)12-B show typical homeotic transformation phenotypes, while over-expression of Su(z)12-A does not. However, the two isoforms appears to be able to substitute for each other in some aspects. During larval and pupal stages, Su(z)12-A seems to play the main role.

Background A known cause of ALS are mutations in the SOD1 gene. There is also evidence that SOD1 may be involved in cases lacking mutations in the gene. A 50 bp deletion located 1684 bp upstream of the start codon of SOD1 has been suggested to reduce transcription of SOD1, affect enzymatic activity and to be associated with later disease onset in ALS patients. The findings have been challenged by a study of Italian ALS patients, and here we examined the 50 bp deletion in Swedish ALS patients and controls. Methods Blood samples from 543 Swedish ALS patients and 356 Swedish controls were analysed for the 50 bp deletion and for SOD1 enzymic activity. The results were related to the disease phenotype of the patients. Results The frequency of the 50 bp deletion was the same in the patient and control cohorts, and both were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium regarding the deletion. In relation to the different genotypes, no differences were detected in SOD1 enzymic activity, duration of disease, age of onset or site of onset. Conclusions When interpreting the present results together with previous results from other populations, we find it unlikely that the 50 bp deletion region has any regulatory function for the SOD1 gene, nor any effects on the phenotype of ALS., On the aetiology of ALS: A comprehensive genetic study

More than 145 mutations have been found in the gene CuZn-Superoxide dismutase (SOD1) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The vast majority are easily detected nucleotide mutations in the coding region. In a patient from a Swiss ALS family with half-normal erythrocyte SOD1 activity, exon flanking sequence analysis revealed a novel thymine to guanine mutation 7 bp upstream of exon 4 (c.240-7T>G). The results of splicing algorithm analyses were ambiguous, but five out of seven analysis tools suggested a potential novel splice site that would add six new base pairs to the mRNA. If translated, this mRNA would insert Ser and Ile between Glu78 and Arg79 in the SOD1 protein. In fibroblasts from the patient, the predicted mutant transcript and the mutant protein were both highly expressed, and despite the location of the insertion into the metal ion-binding loop IV, the SOD1 activity appeared high. In erythrocytes, which lack protein synthesis and are old compared with cultured fibroblasts, both SOD1 protein and enzymic activity was 50% of controls. Thus, the usage of the novel splice site is near 100%, and the mutant SOD1 shows the reduced stability typical of ALS-associated mutant SOD1s. The findings suggests that this novel intronic mutation is causing the disease and highlights the importance of wide exon-flanking sequencing and transcript analysis combined with erythrocyte SOD1 activity analysis in comprehensive search for SOD1 mutations in ALS. We find that there are potentially more SOD1 mutations than previously reported