Dynamic regulation of heterochromatin function via phosphorylation of HP1-family proteins.
Heterochromatin is characterized by methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9, which is recognized by well-conserved HP1-family proteins. Heterochromatin participates in various chromosome functions, which include transcriptional gene silencing and sister-chromatid cohesion. These heterochromatic functions are carried out by various effector proteins that associate with HP1-family proteins; however, the regulation of this association with the effectors is not well understood. Recently, we showed that phosphorylation of the fission-yeast HP1 homolog Swi6 regulates the association of the transcriptional regulators differentially and changes the transcriptional activity of heterochromatin, without affecting sister-chromatid cohesion. This study, together with another study performed using other systems, indicates that phosphorylation of HP1/Swi6 provides a dynamic pathway for the differential regulation of heterochromatin in response to inter- and intracellular signals.
Shimada
Atsushi
A
Division of Cellular Life Science, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan. shimadaatsushi@mail.sci.hokudai.ac.jp
Murakami
Yota
Y
D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000737:chemistry*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000097722:Cohesins
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D006570:Heterochromatin; D000097722:Cohesins