The fission yeast heterochromatin protein Rik1 is required for telomere clustering during meiosis.
Telomeres share the ability to silence nearby transcription with heterochromatin, but the requirement of heterochromatin proteins for most telomere functions is unknown. The fission yeast Rik1 protein is required for heterochromatin formation at centromeres and the mating-type locus, as it recruits the Clr4 histone methyltransferase, whose modification of histone H3 triggers binding by Swi6, a conserved protein involved in spreading of heterochromatin. Here, we demonstrate that Rik1 and Clr4, but not Swi6, are required along with the telomere protein Taz1 for crucial chromosome movements during meiosis. However, Rik1 is dispensable for the protective roles of telomeres in preventing chromosome end-fusion. Thus, a Swi6-independent heterochromatin function distinct from that at centromeres and the mating-type locus operates at telomeres during sexual differentiation.
Tuzon
Creighton T
CT
Telomere Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London, England, UK.
Borgstrom
Britta
B
Weilguny
Dietmar
D
Egel
Richard
R
Cooper
Julia Promisel
JP
Nielsen
Olaf
O
D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008540:Meiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016615:Telomere / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D006570:Heterochromatin; C489651:Rik1 protein, S pombe; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins