A concerted DNA methylation/histone methylation switch regulates rRNA gene dosage control and nucleolar dominance.
Eukaryotes regulate the effective dosage of their ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, expressing fewer than half of the genes at any one time. Likewise, genetic hybrids displaying nucleolar dominance transcribe rRNA genes inherited from one parent but silence the other parental set. We show that rRNA gene dosage control and nucleolar dominance utilize a common mechanism. Central to the mechanism is an epigenetic switch in which concerted changes in promoter cytosine methylation density and specific histone modifications dictate the on and off states of the rRNA genes. A key component of the off switch is HDT1, a plant-specific histone deacetylase that localizes to the nucleolus and is required for H3 lysine 9 deacetylation and subsequent H3 lysine 9 methylation. Collectively, the data support a model in which cytosine methylation and histone deacetylation are each upstream of one another in a self-reinforcing repression cycle.
Department of Biology, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Richard J
RJ
Lawrence
Keith
K
Earley
Olga
O
Pontes
Manuela
M
Silva
Z Jeffrey
ZJ
Chen
Nuno
N
Neves
Wanda
W
Viegas
Craig S
CS
Pikaard
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002999:Clone Cells; D019175:DNA Methylation; D018628:Gene Dosage; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D019076:Transgenes
D006657:Histones; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D006655:Histone Deacetylases