Lsh, a guardian of heterochromatin at repeat elements.
Lymphoid-specific helicase (Lsh) is a crucial factor for normal embryonic development; targeted deletion of Lsh is lethal. Lsh belongs to a family of chromatin-remodeling proteins and is closely associated with pericentromeric heterochromatin. Lsh deficiency leads to abnormal heterochromatin organization, with a loss of DNA methylation, and an altered pattern of histone-tail acetylation and methylation. As a functional consequence of perturbed heterochromatin, aberrant reactivation of parasitic retroviral elements in the genome and abnormal mitosis with amplified centrosomes and genomic instability were observed. Thus, Lsh is a major epigenetic regulator crucial for normal heterochromatin structure and function.
Muegge
Kathrin
K
Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21701, USA. muegge@mail.ncifcrf.gov
D000818:Animals; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000502:physiology*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D006570:Heterochromatin; D004265:DNA Helicases; C412063:HELLS protein, human; C491758:lymphoid specific helicase, mouse