SRA/SET domain-containing proteins link RNA polymerase V occupancy to DNA methylation

ABSTRACT: RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) in Arabidopsis thaliana depends on the synthesis of non-coding RNAs by nuclear RNA polymerase E (NRPE or Pol V) 1-3, but the mechanism by which Pol V is targeted is unknown. Here we show that genome-wide Pol V association with chromatin redundantly requires the SU(VAR)3-9 homologs, SUVH2 and SUVH9. These proteins resemble histone methyltransferases, however a crystal structure reveals that SUVH9 lacks a peptide-substrate binding cleft and lacks a properly formed S-Adenosyl methionine (SAM) binding pocket necessary for normal catalysis, consistent with a lack of methyltransferase activity for these proteins. SUVH2 and SUVH9 both contain SET- and RING-ASSOCIATED (SRA) domains capable of binding methylated DNA, suggesting that they function to recruit Po

ORGANISM(S): Arabidopsis thaliana

SUBMITTER: Christopher Hale 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-52041 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress