Automethylation-induced conformational switch in Clr4 (Suv39h) maintains epigenetic stability.

ABSTRACT: Histone H3 lysine 9 methylation (H3K9me) mediates heterochromatic gene silencing and is important for genome stability and the regulation of gene expression^1-4. The establishment and epigenetic maintenance of heterochromatin involve the recruitment of H3K9 methyltransferases to specific sites on DNA, followed by the recognition of pre-existing H3K9me by the methyltransferase and methylation of proximal histone H3^5-11. This positive feedback loop must be tightly regulated to prevent deleterious epigenetic gene silencing. Extrinsic anti-silencing mechanisms involving histone demethylation or boundary elements help to limit the spread of inappropriate H3K9me^12-15. However, how H3K9 methyltransferase activity is locally restricted or prevented from initiating r

SUBMITTER: Iglesias N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6287498 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature