Detection and Quantification of Histone Methyltransferase Activity In Vitro.

Nwamaka J Idigo, Philipp Voigt

Journal: Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) 2022;2529():43-61

PMID: 35733009

Abstract

Histone methyltransferases (HMTs) catalyze the methylation of lysine and arginine residues in histone as well as nonhistone substrates. In vitro histone methyltransferase assays have been instrumental in identifying HMTs, and they continue to be invaluable tools for the study of these important enzymes, revealing novel substrates and modes of regulation.Here we describe a universal protocol to examine HMT activity in vitro that can be adapted to a range of HMTs, substrates, and experimental objectives. We provide protocols for the detection of activity based on incorporation of H-labeled methyl groups from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), methylation-specific antibodies, and quantification of the reaction product S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH).

Address: Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.; Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK. [email protected].; Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2481-4_2

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MeSH Terms: Histone Methyltransferases, Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase, Histones, Methylation, Protein Processing, Post-Translational, S-Adenosylmethionine