title: Epigenetics. Restricted epigenetic inheritance of H3K9 methylation.
abstract: Posttranslational histone modifications are believed to allow the epigenetic transmission of distinct chromatin states, independently of associated DNA sequences. Histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation is essential for heterochromatin formation; however, a demonstration of its epigenetic heritability is lacking. Fission yeast has a single H3K9 methyltransferase, Clr4, that directs all H3K9 methylation and heterochromatin. Using releasable tethered Clr4 reveals that an active process rapidly erases H3K9 methylation from tethering sites in wild-type cells. However, inactivation of the putative histone demethylase Epe1 allows H3K9 methylation and silent chromatin maintenance at the tethering site through many mitotic divisions, and transgenerationally through meiosis, after release of tethered Clr4. Thus, H3K9 methylation is a heritable epigenetic mark whose transmission is usually countered by its active removal, which prevents the unauthorized inheritance of heterochromatin.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology and Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Pauline N C B
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Audergon
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology and Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology and Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kagansky
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology and Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Pin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology and Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Manu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology and Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pidoux
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology and Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Max Born Crescent, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, Scotland, UK. robin.allshire@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Robin C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Allshire
mesh_terms: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000235:genetics*; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006657:Histones; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; C475031:epe1 protein, S pombe; D008780:Methyltransferases; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; C112744:clr4 protein, S pombe; D008239:Lysine
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