title: Ubiquitin ligase components Cullin4 and DDB1 are essential for DNA methylation in Neurospora crassa.
abstract: DNA methylation and H3K9 trimethylation are involved in gene silencing and heterochromatin assembly in mammals and fungi. In the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, it has been demonstrated that H3K9 trimethylation catalyzed by histone methyltransferase DIM-5 is essential for DNA methylation. Trimethylated H3K9 is recognized by HP1, which then recruits the DNA methyltransferase DIM-2 to methylate the DNA. Here, we show that in Neurospora, ubiquitin ligase components Cullin4 and DDB1 are essential for DNA methylation. These proteins regulate DNA methylation through their effects on the trimethylation of histone H3K9. In addition, we showed that the E3 ligase activity of the Cul4-based ubiquitin ligase is required for its function in histone H3K9 trimethylation in Neurospora. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Cul4 and DDB1 are associated with the histone methyltransferase DIM-5 protein in vivo. Together, these results suggest a mechanism for DNA methylation control that may be applicable in other eukaryotic organisms.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
authors: Yuanbiao
authors: Y
authors: Zhao
authors: Ye
authors: Y
authors: Shen
authors: Silu
authors: S
authors: Yang
authors: Jiyong
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Qiwen
authors: Q
authors: Hu
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Qun
authors: Q
authors: He
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D044842:Cullin Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D044842:Cullin Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006657:Histones