Methylation of histone h3 at lysine 9 targets programmed DNA elimination in tetrahymena.
Histone H3 lysine 9 methylation [Me(Lys9)H3] is an epigenetic mark for heterochromatin-dependent gene silencing, mediated by direct binding to chromodomain-containing proteins such as Heterochromatin Protein 1. In the ciliate Tetrahymena, two chromodomain proteins, Pdd1p and Pdd3p, are involved in the massive programmed DNA elimination that accompanies macronuclear development. We report that both proteins bind H3(Lys9)Me in vitro. In vivo, H3(Lys9)Me is confined to the time period and location where DNA elimination occurs, and associates with eliminated sequences. Loss of parental Pdd1p expression drastically reduces H3(Lys9)Me. Finally, tethering Pdd1p is sufficient to promote DNA excision. These results extend the range of H3(Lys9)Me involvement in chromatin activities outside transcriptional regulation and also strengthen the link between heterochromatin formation and programmed DNA elimination.
Taverna
Sean D
SD
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
Coyne
Robert S
RS
Allis
C David
CD
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008239:Lysine / Q000737:chemistry*; D008745:Methylation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000235:genetics*
D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C410063:PDD3 protein, Tetrahymena thermophila; C101880:Pdd1 protein, Tetrahymena; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D008239:Lysine