A candidate X-linked mental retardation gene is a component of a new family of histone deacetylase-containing complexes.

Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.

Eukaryotic genes are under the control of regulatory complexes acting through chromatin structure to control gene expression. Here we report the identification of a family of multiprotein corepressor complexes that function through modifying chromatin structure to keep genes silent. The polypeptide composition of these complexes has in common a core of two subunits, HDAC1,2 and BHC110, an FAD-binding protein. A candidate X-linked mental retardation gene and the transcription initiation factor II-I (TFII-I) are components of a novel member of this family of complexes. Other subunits of these complexes include polypeptides associated with cancer causing chromosomal translocations. These findings not only delineate a novel class of multiprotein complexes involved in transcriptional repression but also reveal an unanticipated role for TFII-I in transcriptional repression.

PMID: 12493763 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]