The Histone Variant H2A.W Defines Heterochromatin and Promotes Chromatin Condensation in Arabidopsis

ABSTRACT: Histone variants play crucial roles in gene expression, genome integrity and chromosome segregation. However, to what extent histone variants control chromatin architecture remains largely unknown. Here, we show that the previously uncharacterized histone variant H2A.W plays a crucial role in condensation of heterochromatin. Genome-wide profiling of all four types of H2A variants in Arabidopsis shows that H2A.W specifically associates with heterochromatin. H2A.W recruitment is independent of heterochromatic marks H3K9me2 and DNA methylation. Genetic interactions show that H2A.W acts in synergy with CMT3 mediated methylation to maintain genome integrity. In vitro, H2A.W enhances chromatin condensation through a higher propensity to make fiber-to-fiber interactions via its conserved C-termi

ORGANISM(S): Arabidopsis thaliana

SUBMITTER: Hume Stroud 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-50942 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress