Role of histone H3 lysine 9 methylation in epigenetic control of heterochromatin assembly.
The assembly of higher order chromatin structures has been linked to the covalent modifications of histone tails. We provide in vivo evidence that lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3 Lys9) is preferentially methylated by the Clr4 protein at heterochromatin-associated regions in fission yeast. Both the conserved chromo- and SET domains of Clr4 are required for H3 Lys9 methylation in vivo. Localization of Swi6, a homolog of Drosophila HP1, to heterochomatic regions is dependent on H3 Lys9 methylation. Moreover, an H3-specific deacetylase Clr3 and a beta-propeller domain protein Rik1 are required for H3 Lys9 methylation by Clr4 and Swi6 localization. These data define a conserved pathway wherein sequential histone modifications establish a "histone code" essential for the epigenetic inheritance of heterochromatin assembly.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Post Office Box 100, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
J
J
Nakayama
J C
JC
Rice
B D
BD
Strahl
C D
CD
Allis
S I
SI
Grewal
D000107:Acetylation; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002503:Centromere / Q000378:metabolism; D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000076983:Histone Methyltransferases; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D011496:Protein Methyltransferases; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C115302:Clr3 protein, S pombe; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006657:Histones; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C075111:SWI6 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000076983:Histone Methyltransferases; D008780:Methyltransferases; D011496:Protein Methyltransferases; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; C112744:clr4 protein, S pombe; D006655:Histone Deacetylases; D008239:Lysine