A PHF19-YTHDC1 condensate switches EZH2-mediated gene suppression to activation for prostate cancer progression

S Shuai Yuan (State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of MOE, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Organic Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) D Dao-Jing Ming (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) J Jiapeng He (Department of Biochemistry, SUSTech Homeostatic Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology) M Meng-Yang Liu (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) S Shao-Hua He (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) H Hong Weng S Shu Xi (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) J Jin-Hui Zhang (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) M Ming-Hui Shi (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) J Jin-Long Cui (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) L Lu-Yao Li (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) H Haozhe Zhang (Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division) D Dan-Qi Wang (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) F Fei Li M Meng-Meng Guo (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) Y Yi Cai S Shi-Di Tang (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) S Shuang-Ying Wang (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) X Xing-Huan Wang (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) X Xian-Tao Zeng (Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University) H Hailiang Hu (Department of Biochemistry, SUSTech Homeostatic Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

EZH2, a core component of PRC2 complex, silences global gene expression by tri-methylating histone H3K27. It remains an elusive question that EZH2 hyperexpression discords with its H3K27me3 activity of gene suppression in advanced prostate cancer. Here, we report a nascent RNA-dependent PHF19-YTHDC1 condensate capable of switching EZH2-mediated gene suppression to activation during prostate cancer progression. We found that the long isoform of PRC2 accessory subunit PHF19, PHF19L, was highly expressed in advanced prostate cancer that promoted the tumor progression and hormonal therapy resistance. Mechanistically, PHF19L was recruited to the m 6 A modified nascent RNA through YTHDC1 and formed a liquid-like YTHDC1-PHF19L condensate that pulled the EZH2 away from chromatin, resulting in reduced H3K27me3 deposition and the activated expression of EZH2-repressed genes. Therefore, our study reveals a biomolecular condensate that modulates the switch from EZH2-mediated epigenetic gene silence to activation during the progression of prostate cancer.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 43
Published October 28, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (21)

S

Shuai Yuan

State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of MOE, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Organic Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

D

Dao-Jing Ming

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

J

Jiapeng He

Department of Biochemistry, SUSTech Homeostatic Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology

M

Meng-Yang Liu

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

S

Shao-Hua He

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

H

Hong Weng

S

Shu Xi

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

J

Jin-Hui Zhang

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

M

Ming-Hui Shi

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

J

Jin-Long Cui

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

L

Lu-Yao Li

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

H

Haozhe Zhang

Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division

D

Dan-Qi Wang

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

F

Fei Li

M

Meng-Meng Guo

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

Y

Yi Cai

S

Shi-Di Tang

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

S

Shuang-Ying Wang

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

X

Xing-Huan Wang

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

X

Xian-Tao Zeng

Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University

H

Hailiang Hu

Department of Biochemistry, SUSTech Homeostatic Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology