Histone acetylation by p300 is involved in CREB-mediated transcription on chromatin.

Signal transduction through cAMP to activate gene expression via the cAMP-responsive element (CRE) is one of the most intensively studied transcription pathways. In this pathway, transcription factor CRE-binding protein (CREB) recognizes the CRE enhancer on DNA. The CREB protein is activated via phosphorylation at serine 133 by protein kinase A and then is able to recruit coactivator CREB-binding protein (CBP) and its homologue p300. This recruitment of CBP/p300 is required for transcription activation. The mechanism for CBP/p300 to participate in this transcription process is still unclear. CBP and p300 are histone acetyltransferases (HAT) and able to associate with other HAT proteins. It has been reported that the regulation of nuclear receptor-mediated transcription initiation by p300 requires chromatin and its HAT function. The data shown here indicate that the requirements for chromatin and p300 HAT activity also apply to the activation of CREB-mediated transcription. Serine 133-phosphorylated CREB recruits p300 onto chromatin for efficient acetylation of nucleosomes. This targeted acetylation by p300 is essential to CREB-dependent transcription pathway.