Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effect of histone acetylation on regulation of p21WAF1 gene expression in human colon cancer cell lines. METHODS: Two cell lines, Colo-320 and SW1116 were treated with either trichostatin or sodium butyrate. Expressions of p21WAF1 mRNA and protein were detected by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Acetylation of two regions of p21WAF1 gene-associated histones and total cellular histones were examined by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and Western blotting. RESULTS: Trichostatin or sodium butyrate re-activated p21WAF1 transcription resulted in up-regulated p21WAF1 protein level in colon cancer cell lines. Those effects were accompanied by an accumulation of acetylated histones in total cellular chromatin and p21WAF1 gene-associated region of chromatin. CONCLUSION: Histone acetylation regulates p21WAF1 expression in human colon cancer cell lines, Colo-320 and SW1116.