RNAi-dependent H3K27 methylation is required for heterochromatin formation and DNA elimination in Tetrahymena.
Methylated H3K27 is an important mark for Polycomb group (PcG) protein-mediated transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) in multicellular eukaryotes. Here a Drosophila E(z) homolog, EZL1, is characterized in the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila and is shown to be responsible for H3K27 methylation associated with developmentally regulated heterochromatin formation and DNA elimination. Importantly, Ezl1p-catalyzed H3K27 methylation occurs in an RNA interference (RNAi)-dependent manner. H3K27 methylation also regulates H3K9 methylation in these processes. Furthermore, an "effector" of programmed DNA elimination, the chromodomain protein Pdd1p, is shown to bind both K27- and K9-methylated H3. These studies provide a framework for an RNAi-dependent, Polycomb group protein-mediated heterochromatin formation pathway in Tetrahymena and underscore the connection between the two highly conserved machineries in eukaryotes.
Liu
Yifan
Y
Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Taverna
Sean D
SD
Muratore
Tara L
TL
Shabanowitz
Jeffrey
J
Hunt
Donald F
DF
Allis
C David
CD
D000818:Animals; D019457:Chromosome Breakage; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006657:Histones; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C101880:Pdd1 protein, Tetrahymena; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D008780:Methyltransferases