Heterochromatic silencing and HP1 localization in Drosophila are dependent on the RNAi machinery.
Genes normally resident in euchromatic domains are silenced when packaged into heterochromatin, as exemplified in Drosophila melanogaster by position effect variegation (PEV). Loss-of-function mutations resulting in suppression of PEV have identified critical components of heterochromatin, including proteins HP1, HP2, and histone H3 lysine 9 methyltransferase. Here, we demonstrate that this silencing is dependent on the RNA interference machinery, using tandem mini-white arrays and white transgenes in heterochromatin to show loss of silencing as a result of mutations in piwi, aubergine, or spindle-E (homeless), which encode RNAi components. These mutations result in reduction of H3 Lys9 methylation and delocalization of HP1 and HP2, most dramatically in spindle-E mutants.
Pal-Bhadra
Manika
M
Division of Biological Sciences, 117 Tucker Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Leibovitch
Boris A
BA
Gandhi
Sumit G
SG
Chikka
Madhusudana Rao
MR
Rao
Madhusudana
M
Bhadra
Utpal
U
Birchler
James A
JA
Elgin
Sarah C R
SC
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017344:Genes, Insect; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D009154:Mutation; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D034622:RNA Interference; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex; D019076:Transgenes
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006657:Histones; D011506:Proteins; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex; C452193:heterochromatin protein 1, Drosophila; C116498:piwi protein, Drosophila; C059254:w protein, Drosophila; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; C096355:spn-E protein, Drosophila