Year: 2011
Type: preprint
Abstract: Heterochromatin integrity is crucial for genome stability and regulation of gene expression, but the factors involved in mammalian heterochromatin biology are only incompletely understood. Here we identify the oncoprotein DEK, an abundant nuclear protein with a previously enigmatic in vivo function, as a Suppressor of Variegation [Su(var)] that is crucial to global heterochromatin integrity. We show that DEK interacts directly with Heterochromatin Protein 1 α (HP1α) and markedly enhances its binding to trimethylated H3K9 (H3K9me3), which is key for maintaining heterochromatic regions. Loss of Dek in Drosophila leads to a Su(var) phenotype and global reduction in heterochromatin. Thus, these findings show that DEK is a key factor in maintaining the balance between heterochromatin and euchromatin in vivo.
Source: Genes & Development
DOI: 10.1101/gad.2036411
Institutions: University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine, Max Planck Society, University of Konstanz, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Northwestern University, Heidelberg University, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Colorado State University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2113936980