SET DOMAIN GROUP2 is the major histone H3 lysine [corrected] 4 trimethyltransferase in Arabidopsis.

ABSTRACT: Posttranslational modifications of histones play important roles in modulating chromatin structure and regulating gene expression. We have previously shown that more than two thirds of Arabidopsis genes contain histone H3 methylation at lysine 4 (H3K4me) and that trimethylation of H3K4 (H3K4me3) is preferentially located at actively transcribed genes. In addition, several Arabidopsis mutants with locus-specific loss of H3K4me have been found to display various developmental abnormalities. These findings suggest that H3K4me3 may play important roles in maintaining the normal expression of a large number of genes. However, the major enzyme(s) responsible for H3K4me3 has yet to be identified in plants, making it difficult to address questions regarding the mechanisms and functions of H3K4me3.

SUBMITTER: Guo L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2972934 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature