title: Membrane-bound methyltransferase complex VapA-VipC-VapB guides epigenetic control of fungal development.
abstract: Epigenetic and transcriptional control of gene expression must be coordinated in response to external signals to promote alternative multicellular developmental programs. The membrane-associated trimeric complex VapA-VipC-VapB controls a signal transduction pathway for fungal differentiation. The VipC-VapB methyltransferases are tethered to the membrane by the FYVE-like zinc finger protein VapA, allowing the nuclear VelB-VeA-LaeA complex to activate transcription for sexual development. Once the release from VapA is triggered, VipC-VapB is transported into the nucleus. VipC-VapB physically interacts with VeA and reduces its nuclear import and protein stability, thereby reducing the nuclear VelB-VeA-LaeA complex. Nuclear VapB methyltransferase diminishes the establishment of facultative heterochromatin by decreasing histone 3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3). This favors activation of the regulatory genes brlA and abaA, which promote the asexual program. The VapA-VipC-VapB methyltransferase pathway combines control of nuclear import and stability of transcription factors with histone modification to foster appropriate differentiation responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University, Grisebachstrasse 8, Göttingen 37077, Germany.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sarikaya-Bayram
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University, Grisebachstrasse 8, Göttingen 37077, Germany.
authors.forename: Ozgür
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bayram
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biochemistry, Georg August University, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, Göttingen 37077, Germany.
authors.forename: Kirstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Feussner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Woosuk University, Wanju 565-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Woosuk University, Wanju 565-701, Korea; Department of Molecular Biology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Seo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioinformatics, Georg August University, Goldschmidtstrasse 1, Göttingen 37077, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaever
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biochemistry, Georg August University, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, Göttingen 37077, Germany.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Feussner
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Keon-Sang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.affiliation: Division of Life Sciences, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Min
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Woosuk University, Wanju 565-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Kap-Hoon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University, Grisebachstrasse 8, Göttingen 37077, Germany. Electronic address: gbraus@gwdg.de.
authors.forename: Gerhard H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Braus
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D001233:Aspergillus nidulans / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D021381:Protein Transport; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C419553:AbaA protein, Aspergillus nidulans; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006657:Histones; D014157:Transcription Factors; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D008780:Methyltransferases