SET7/9 mediated methylation of non-histone proteins in mammalian cells

Lysine methylation has emerged as a major posttranslational modification for histones in eukaryotes. Crosstalk between lysine methylation and other posttranslational modifications is crucial for transcriptional gene regulation and epigenetic inheritance. In addition to histones, several other cellular proteins including transcription factors, tumor suppressor and membrane-associated receptors are subject to lysine methylation. SET7/9 plays a prominent role in lysine methylation of histone and non-histone proteins. Recent reports have suggested a new mechanism of epigenetic gene regulation via SET7/9 modulated DNMT1 methylation. In this mechanism, SET7/9 may methylate DNMT1 leading to proteasome mediated protein degradation, and antagonist lysine specific demethylase ( LSD), may prevent this degradation by removing the methyl mark. Thus a fine-tuning and balance between cellular SET7/9 and LSD interaction with DNMT1 may be means for epigenetic gene regulation.