Upregulation of Polo-like kinase 2 gene expression by GATA-1 acetylation in human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells. Polo-like kinase 2 (Plk2) is a member of the serine/threonine protein kinase family involved in cell-cycle regulation and cellular response to stresses. It is of great interest to investigate the molecular mechanisms that control the expression of Plk2. Here, using real-time PCR and Western blot assays, we show that trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, upregulated Plk2 mRNA and protein expression in the human osteosarcoma MG-63 cell line. Luciferase activity analysis of the truncated Plk2 promoter indicated that the region from -1220 to -830 of the Plk2 promoter was sensitive to TSA. Moreover, using the electrophoresis mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we identified two GATA-1 responsive elements at positions -1051 and -949, to which GATA-1 binding was enhanced by TSA under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot showed that the levels of acetylated GATA-1 were increased with TSA in MG-63 cells, consistent with their binding affinities to the GATA-1 responsive elements. In summary, these data demonstrate that acetylation plays a crucial role in Plk2 expression and acetylation of GATA-1 by TSA treatment may upregulate their DNA-binding affinities, resulting in the activation of Plk2 promoter. These results may contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism of Plk2 regulation.Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.