title: HP1a, Su(var)3-9, SETDB1 and POF stimulate or repress gene expression depending on genomic position, gene length and expression pattern in Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: Heterochromatin protein 1a (HP1a) is a chromatin-associated protein important for the formation and maintenance of heterochromatin. In Drosophila, the two histone methyltransferases SETDB1 and Su(var)3-9 mediate H3K9 methylation marks that initiates the establishment and spreading of HP1a-enriched chromatin. Although HP1a is generally regarded as a factor that represses gene transcription, several reports have linked HP1a binding to active genes, and in some cases, it has been shown to stimulate transcriptional activity. To clarify the function of HP1a in transcription regulation and its association with Su(var)3-9, SETDB1 and the chromosome 4-specific protein POF, we conducted genome-wide expression studies and combined the results with available binding data in Drosophila melanogaster. The results suggest that HP1a, SETDB1 and Su(var)3-9 repress genes on chromosome 4, where non-ubiquitously expressed genes are preferentially targeted, and stimulate genes in pericentromeric regions. Further, we showed that on chromosome 4, Su(var)3-9, SETDB1 and HP1a target the same genes. In addition, we found that transposons are repressed by HP1a and Su(var)3-9 and that the binding level and expression effects of HP1a are affected by gene length. Our results indicate that genes have adapted to be properly expressed in their local chromatin environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lina E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stenberg
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002503:Centromere; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism*; D059006:Chromosomes, Insect; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D049750:Genome, Insect; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C430458:Pof protein, Drosophila; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C089148:Su(var)3-9 protein, Drosophila; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; C519551:egg protein, Drosophila