A DEK domain-containing protein modulates chromatin structure and function in Arabidopsis.
Chromatin is a major determinant in the regulation of virtually all DNA-dependent processes. Chromatin architectural proteins interact with nucleosomes to modulate chromatin accessibility and higher-order chromatin structure. The evolutionarily conserved DEK domain-containing protein is implicated in important chromatin-related processes in animals, but little is known about its DNA targets and protein interaction partners. In plants, the role of DEK has remained elusive. In this work, we identified DEK3 as a chromatin-associated protein in Arabidopsis thaliana. DEK3 specifically binds histones H3 and H4. Purification of other proteins associated with nuclear DEK3 also established DNA topoisomerase 1α and proteins of the cohesion complex as in vivo interaction partners. Genome-wide mapping of DEK3 binding sites by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing revealed enrichment of DEK3 at protein-coding genes throughout the genome. Using DEK3 knockout and overexpressor lines, we show that DEK3 affects nucleosome occupancy and chromatin accessibility and modulates the expression of DEK3 target genes. Furthermore, functional levels of DEK3 are crucial for stress tolerance. Overall, data indicate that DEK3 contributes to modulation of Arabidopsis chromatin structure and function.
Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Sascha
S
Waidmann
Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Branislav
B
Kusenda
Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Juliane
J
Mayerhofer
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Karl
K
Mechtler
Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria claudia.jonak@gmi.oeaw.ac.at.
Claudia
C
Jonak
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002154:Calpain / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D009707:Nucleosomes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D002154:Calpain; C507125:DEK1 protein, Arabidopsis