DNA-RNA-protein gang together in silence.
Two recent reports demonstrate interdependence between DNA and histone methylation in Arabidopsis. ddm1 (decrease in DNA methylation 1) mutants switch histone methylation from a form associated with inactive chromatin to a form connected to actively transcribed genomic regions. The loss of DNA methylation and shift in histone methylation cause transcriptional derepression of heterochromatic regions. In a related report, small RNAs in Schizosaccharomyces pombe mark histone methylation to form heterochromatin, suggesting that methylation systems work alongside RNA metabolism.
Stokes
Trevor
T
New York University, Plant Molecular Biology, 24-26 Waverly Place - Rm 766, New York, NY 10003, USA.
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D019175:DNA Methylation; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C118957:DDM1 protein, Arabidopsis; D018744:DNA, Plant; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014157:Transcription Factors