Pygo is a nuclear protein containing two conserved domains, NHD and PHD, which play important roles in embryonic development and carcinogenesis. Pygo was first identified as a core component of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway. However, it has also been reported that the function of Pygo is not always Wnt/β-catenin signalling dependent. In this review, we summarise the functions of both domains of Pygo and show that their functions are synergetic. The PHD domain mainly combines with transcription co-factors, including histone 3 and Bcl9/9l. The NHD domain mainly recruits histone methyltransferase/acetyltransferase (HMT/HAT) to modify lysine 4 of the histone 3 tail (H3K4) and interacts with Chip/LIM-domain DNA-binding proteins (ChiLS) to form enhanceosomes to regulate transcriptional activity. Furthermore, we summarised chromatin modification differences of Pygo in Drosophila (dPygo) and vertebrates, and found that Pygo displayes a chromatin silencing function in Drosophila, while in vertebates, Pygo has a chromatin-activating function due to the two substitution of two amino acid residues. Next, we confirmed the relationship between Pygo and Bcl9/9l and found that Pygo–Bcl/9l are specifically partnered both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. Finally, we discuss whether transcriptional activity of Pygo is Wnt/β-catenin dependent during embryonic development. Available information indications that the transcriptional activity of Pygo in embryonic development is either Wnt/β-catenin dependent or independent in both tissue-specific and cell-specific-modes.
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Cover Image
Cover Image
The transcript is populated with numerous overlapping codes that regulate all steps of gene expression. These codes cannot be readily discovered and understood without the use of computational modelling and algorithms. In this issue (see pages 1519–1528), Bahiri-Elitzur and Tuller summarize and discuss the different approaches that have been employed in the field in recent years. This cover artwork has been created by Hagar Messer and was provided by Tamir Tuller.
Structure and function of Pygo in organ development dependent and independent Wnt signalling
Yan Shi, Xiushan Wu, Shuoji Zhu, Huanlei Huang, Jian Zhuang, Haiyun Yuan, Wuzhou Yuan, Ping Zhu; Structure and function of Pygo in organ development dependent and independent Wnt signalling. Biochem Soc Trans 28 August 2020; 48 (4): 1781–1794. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20200393
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