Drosophila H1 Regulates the Genetic Activity of Heterochromatin by Recruitment of Su(var)3-9
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Eukaryotic genomes harbor transposable elements and other repetitive sequences that must be silenced. Small RNA interference pathways play a major role in their repression. Here, we reveal another mechanism for silencing these sequences in Drosophila. Depleting the linker histone H1 in vivo leads to strong activation of these elements. H1-mediated silencing occurs in combination with the heterochromatin-specific histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferase Su(var)3-9. H1 physically interacts with Su(var)3-9 and recruits it to chromatin in vitro, which promotes H3 methylation. We propose that H1 plays a key role in silencing by tethering Su(var)3-9 to heterochromatin. The tethering function of H1 adds to its established role as a regulator of chromatin compaction and accessibility.
Source: Science
Authors: Xingwu Lu, Sandeep N. Wontakal, Harsh Kavi, Byung Ju Kim, Paloma M. Guzzardo, Alexander V. Emelyanov, Na Xu, Gregory J. Hannon, Jiri Zavadil, Dmitry V. Fyodorov, Arthur I. Skoultchi
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1570850189, In Vivo Analysis of Mouse H1 Histone Function, Drosophila Linker Histone H1 Functions in Chromosome Architecture and Activity, Chromatin Transitions during Early Embryonic Development in Drosophila melanogaster, Roles of small RNAs in guarding germ cell genomes, G7306408011, In Vivo Analysis of Mouse H1 Histone Function, Cancer Center Support Grant
OpenAlex ID: W2000392583