RNF20-mediated transcriptional pausing and VEGFA splicing orchestrate vessel growth

Abstract

Signal-responsive gene expression is essential for vascular development, yet the mechanisms integrating signaling inputs with transcriptional activities are largely unknown. Here we show that RNF20, the primary E3 ubiquitin ligase for histone H2B, plays a multifaceted role in sprouting angiogenesis. RNF20 mediates RNA polymerase (Pol II) promoter-proximal pausing at genes highly paused in endothelial cells, involved in VEGFA signaling, stress response, cell cycle control and mRNA splicing. It also orchestrates large-scale mRNA processing events that alter the bioavailability and function of critical pro-angiogenic factors, such as VEGFA. Mechanistically, RNF20 restricts ERG-dependent Pol II pause release at highly paused genes while binding to Notch1 to promote H2B monoubiquitination at Notch target genes and Notch-dependent gene expression. This balance is crucial, as loss of Rnf20 leads to uncontrolled tip cell specification. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of RNF20 in regulating VEGF–Notch signaling circuits during vessel growth, underscoring its potential for therapeutic modulation of angiogenesis. Tetik-Elsherbiny et al. demonstrate that the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF20 mediates RNA polymerase II promoter-proximal pausing and alternative splicing, regulating the bioavailability and signaling of pro-angiogenic factors and angiogenesis.