The Arabidopsis acetylated histone-binding protein BRAT1 forms a complex with BRP1 and prevents transcriptional silencing.
Transposable elements and other repetitive DNA sequences are usually subject to DNA methylation and transcriptional silencing. However, anti-silencing mechanisms that promote transcription in these regions are not well understood. Here, we describe an anti-silencing factor, Bromodomain and ATPase domain-containing protein 1 (BRAT1), which we identified by a genetic screen in Arabidopsis thaliana. BRAT1 interacts with an ATPase domain-containing protein, BRP1 (BRAT1 Partner 1), and both prevent transcriptional silencing at methylated genomic regions. Although BRAT1 mediates DNA demethylation at a small set of loci targeted by the 5-methylcytosine DNA glycosylase ROS1, the involvement of BRAT1 in anti-silencing is largely independent of DNA demethylation. We also demonstrate that the bromodomain of BRAT1 binds to acetylated histone, which may facilitate the prevention of transcriptional silencing. Thus, BRAT1 represents a potential link between histone acetylation and transcriptional anti-silencing at methylated genomic regions, which may be conserved in eukaryotes.
National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7, Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China.
Cui-Jun
CJ
Zhang
National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7, Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China.
Xiao-Mei
XM
Hou
National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7, Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China.
Lian-Mei
LM
Tan
National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7, Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China.
Chang-Rong
CR
Shao
National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7, Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China.
Huan-Wei
HW
Huang
National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7, Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China.
Yong-Qiang
YQ
Li
National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7, Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China.
Lin
L
Li
National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7, Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China.
Tao
T
Cai
National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7, Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China.
She
S
Chen
National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7, Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China.
Xin-Jian
0000-0002-2878-7461
XJ
He
D000107:Acetylation; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000073399:DNA Demethylation; D019175:DNA Methylation; D020868:Gene Silencing; D056426:Genetic Loci; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding; D000072417:Protein Domains; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000378:metabolism
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D006657:Histones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant