Ezh2-dependent H3K27me3 modification dynamically regulates vitamin D3-dependent epigenetic control of CYP24A1 gene expression in osteoblastic cells.

Epigenetic control is critical for the regulation of gene transcription in mammalian cells. Among the most important epigenetic mechanisms are those associated with posttranslational modifications of chromosomal histone proteins, which modulate chromatin structure and increased accessibility of promoter regulatory elements for competency to support transcription. A critical histone mark is trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine residue 27 (H3K27me3), which is mediated by Ezh2, the catalytic subunit of the polycomb group complex PRC2 to repress transcription.

Identification of a novel long noncoding RNA that promotes osteoblast differentiation.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a heterogeneous class of transcripts, longer than 200 nucleotides, 5'-capped, polyadenylated, and poorly conserved among mammalian species. Several studies have shown the contribution of lncRNAs to different cellular processes, including regulation of the chromatin structure, control of messenger RNA translation, regulation of gene transcription, regulation of embryonic pluripotency, and differentiation. Although limited numbers of functional lncRNAs have been identified so far, the immense regulatory potential of these RNAs is already evident, indicating that a functional characterization of lncRNAs is needed.