Ring1B compacts chromatin structure and represses gene expression independent of histone ubiquitination.
How polycomb group proteins repress gene expression in vivo is not known. While histone-modifying activities of the polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs) have been studied extensively, in vitro data have suggested a direct activity of the PRC1 complex in compacting chromatin. Here, we investigate higher-order chromatin compaction of polycomb targets in vivo. We show that PRCs are required to maintain a compact chromatin state at Hox loci in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). There is specific decompaction in the absence of PRC2 or PRC1. This is due to a PRC1-like complex, since decompaction occurs in Ring1B null cells that still have PRC2-mediated H3K27 methylation. Moreover, we show that the ability of Ring1B to restore a compact chromatin state and to repress Hox gene expression is not dependent on its histone ubiquitination activity. We suggest that Ring1B-mediated chromatin compaction acts to directly limit transcription in vivo.
Eskeland
Ragnhild
R
MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
Leeb
Martin
M
Grimes
Graeme R
GR
Kress
Clémence
C
Boyle
Shelagh
S
Sproul
Duncan
D
Gilbert
Nick
N
Fan
Yuhong
Y
Skoultchi
Arthur I
AI
Wutz
Anton
A
Bickmore
Wendy A
WA
D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D015536:Down-Regulation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D054875:Ubiquitination
C107275:Eed protein, mouse; D006657:Histones; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D063150:Polycomb Repressive Complex 1; C489842:Rnf2 protein, mouse; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
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