Involvement of histone H4 acetylation in the epigenetic inheritance of different activity states of maternally and paternally derived genomes in the mealybug Planococcus citri.
Modification of histones by acetylation is a well-known mechanism for the establishment and maintenance of specific chromatin structures with different activity states. In Planococcus citri males the paternal genome, early in development, becomes mostly inactive and heterochromatic. As we had not found methylation in the genome of P. citri, we analyzed the acetylation state of histone H4. We report here that, in males, differences in the level of histone H4 acetylation are indeed present in the two genomes of different parental origin; these differences were confirmed by treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A. There is also evidence of acetylation of histone H4 on metaphase chromosomes. Our data therefore suggest a role of histone H4 acetylation in the imprinting of the paternal genome in P. citri males, thus supporting a role of modification of chromatin-related structural proteins in the epigenetic transmission of imprinting.
Ferraro
M
M
Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. mferraro@axcasp.caspur.it
Buglia
G L
GL
Romano
F
F
D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D018899:CpG Islands; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D017344:Genes, Insect / Q000502:physiology*; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007211:Indoles; D007313:Insecta / Q000235:genetics*; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D008677:Metaphase / Q000235:genetics; D008739:Methyl Green; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006570:Heterochromatin; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006657:Histones; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D007211:Indoles; C012589:trichostatin A; C007293:DAPI; D008739:Methyl Green