title: Structural basis of transcriptional gene silencing mediated by Arabidopsis MOM1.
abstract: Shifts between epigenetic states of transcriptional activity are typically correlated with changes in epigenetic marks. However, exceptions to this rule suggest the existence of additional, as yet uncharacterized, layers of epigenetic regulation. MOM1, a protein of 2,001 amino acids that acts as a transcriptional silencer, represents such an exception. Here we define the 82 amino acid domain called CMM2 (Conserved MOM1 Motif 2) as a minimal MOM1 fragment capable of transcriptional regulation. As determined by X-ray crystallography, this motif folds into an unusual hendecad-based coiled-coil. Structure-based mutagenesis followed by transgenic complementation tests in plants demonstrate that CMM2 and its dimerization are effective for transcriptional suppression at chromosomal loci co-regulated by MOM1 and the siRNA pathway but not at loci controlled by MOM1 in an siRNA-independent fashion. These results reveal a surprising separation of epigenetic activities that enable the single, large MOM1 protein to coordinate cooperating mechanisms of epigenetic regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Taisuke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molinard
authors.forename: Tom J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Petty
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Broger
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gabus
authors.forename: Thanos D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Halazonetis
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thore
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paszkowski
mesh_terms: D000074183:ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D020868:Gene Silencing; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017510:Protein Folding; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000074183:ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities; C409208:MOM protein, Arabidopsis