Tudor-knot domain mutation in KAT8/MOF impede nucleosome interaction and histone acetylation [ChIP-Seq]

KAT8 is a lysine acetyltransferase and is involved in multiple important biological processes including cancer. The well-known function of KAT8 is catalyzing acetylation on histone H4, which regulates gene expression and chromatin decompaction. Besides catalytic HAT domain, the function of Tudor-knot domain of KAT8 remains largely unclear. Here, we report a novel function of Tudor-knot domain in facilitates histone acetyltransferase activity on H4K16ac. One hot-spot cancer mutation on Tudor-knot domain of KAT8 inhibits its interaction with nucleosome and reduces H4K16ac level both in vitro and in cells without altering the chromatin occupancy. Interestingly, this Tudor-knot mutation does not influence acetylation activity of KAT8 on p53, a non-histone substrate, suggests the important function of KAT8 Tudor-knot domain in the substrate specific catalytic regulation. RNA profiles of KAT8 WT and R98W OE in A549 cells.