title: Causal role for inheritance of H3K27me3 in maintaining the OFF state of aDrosophilaHOX gene.
abstract: Many eukaryotic cells can respond to transient environmental or developmental stimuli with heritable changes in gene expression that are associated with nucleosome modifications. However, it remains uncertain whether modified nucleosomes play a causal role in transmitting such epigenetic memories, as opposed to controlling or merely reflecting transcriptional states inherited by other means. Here, we provide in vivo evidence that H3K27 trimethylated nucleosomes, once established at a repressedDrosophilaHOX gene, remain heritably associated with that gene and can carry the memory of the silenced state through multiple rounds of replication, even when the capacity to copy the H3K27me3 mark to newly incorporated nucleosomes is diminished or abolished. Hence, in this context, the inheritance of H3K27 trimethylation conveys epigenetic memory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 701 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Rory T
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3590-7695
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 701 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. gs20@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0018-604X
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Struhl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008239:Lysine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006657:Histones; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009707:Nucleosomes; D014157:Transcription Factors; C066177:Ubx protein, Drosophila; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; C524066:PRC2 protein, Drosophila; D008239:Lysine