DPF3a – a new key protein involved in epigenetic regulation of myocardial hypertrophy.
Epigenetic factors play an important role in the regulation of pathological remodeling processes in heart muscle cells. However, the precise mechanism by which they act is still largely unknown. In the specialist journal Nucleic Acids Research a team of investigators led by Prof. Rickert-Sperling from the DZHK partner site in Berlin demonstrate a new signaling pathway for cardiac hypertrophy mediated by the chromatin remodeling factor DPF3a (BAF45c). Activation of DPF3a in adult hearts induces the reactivation of fetal gene expression in heart muscle cells thus leading to heart muscle growth, which consecutively leads to heart failure. What makes DPF3a special is its sandwich function between the BAF chromatin remodeling complex and the HEY transcription factors. It thereby controls gene expression in two ways. The current study builds on previous investigations by the team which examined the role of DPF3 in normal cardiac development. They hope that the DPF3a-mediated signaling pathway may provide a promising approach in the search for new molecular targets for the treatment of heart failure.