title: The SET-2/SET1 histone H3K4 methyltransferase maintains pluripotency in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline.
abstract: Histone H3 Lys 4 methylation (H3K4me) is deposited by the conserved SET1/MLL methyltransferases acting in multiprotein complexes, including Ash2 and Wdr5. Although individual subunits contribute to complex activity, how they influence gene expression in specific tissues remains largely unknown. In Caenorhabditis elegans, SET-2/SET1, WDR-5.1, and ASH-2 are differentially required for germline H3K4 methylation. Using expression profiling on germlines from animals lacking set-2, ash-2, or wdr-5.1, we show that these subunits play unique as well as redundant functions in order to promote expression of germline genes and repress somatic genes. Furthermore, we show that in set-2- and wdr-5.1-deficient germlines, somatic gene misexpression is associated with conversion of germ cells into somatic cells and that nuclear RNAi acts in parallel with SET-2 and WDR-5.1 to maintain germline identity. These findings uncover a unique role for SET-2 and WDR-5.1 in preserving germline pluripotency and underline the complexity of the cellular network regulating this process.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS, Université de Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
authors.forename: Valérie J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS, Université de Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
authors.forename: Marine G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS, Université de Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bedet
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS, Université de Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janczarski
authors.affiliation: Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merlet
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS, Université de Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garvis
authors.affiliation: Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rafal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciosk
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS, Université de Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France. Electronic address: francesca.palladino@ens-lyon.fr.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palladino
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C569241:wdr-5.1 protein, C elegans; C551693:ASH-2 protein, C elegans; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase