Abstract
The assembly of higher order chromatin structures has been linked to the covalent modifications of histone tails. We provide in vivo evidence that lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3 Lys9) is preferentially methylated by the Clr4 protein at heterochromatin-associated regions in fission yeast. Both the conserved chromo- and SET domains of Clr4 are required for H3 Lys9 methylation in vivo. Localization of Swi6, a homolog of Drosophila HP1, to heterochomatic regions is dependent on H3 Lys9 methylation. Moreover, an H3-specific deacetylase Clr3 and a beta-propeller domain protein Rik1 are required for H3 Lys9 methylation by Clr4 and Swi6 localization. These data define a conserved pathway wherein sequential histone modifications establish a "histone code" essential for the epigenetic inheritance of heterochromatin assembly.
Publication types
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
- Acetylation
- Cell Cycle Proteins / chemistry
- Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
- Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
- Centromere / metabolism
- Chromosomes, Fungal / metabolism*
- Fungal Proteins / genetics
- Fungal Proteins / metabolism
- Gene Silencing
- Genes, Fungal
- Heterochromatin / metabolism*
- Histone Deacetylases / genetics
- Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
- Histone Methyltransferases
- Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase*
- Histones / chemistry*
- Histones / metabolism*
- Lysine / metabolism*
- Methylation
- Methyltransferases / chemistry
- Methyltransferases / genetics
- Methyltransferases / metabolism
- Mutation
- Protein Methyltransferases
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
- Schizosaccharomyces / genetics
- Schizosaccharomyces / metabolism*
- Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins*
- Transcription Factors / metabolism
Substances
- Cell Cycle Proteins
- Clr3 protein, S pombe
- Fungal Proteins
- Heterochromatin
- Histones
- Recombinant Proteins
- SWI6 protein, S cerevisiae
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
- Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
- Transcription Factors
- Histone Methyltransferases
- Methyltransferases
- Protein Methyltransferases
- Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
- clr4 protein, S pombe
- Histone Deacetylases
- Lysine