Epigenetic inheritance mediated by coupling of RNAi and histone H3K9 methylation.

ABSTRACT: Histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) are associated with epigenetic states that form the basis for cell-type-specific gene expression^1,2. Once established, histone PTMs can be maintained by positive feedback involving enzymes that recognize a pre-existing histone modification and catalyse the same modification on newly deposited histones. Recent studies suggest that in wild-type cells, histone PTM-based positive feedback is too weak to mediate epigenetic inheritance in the absence of other inputs^3-7. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated histone H3 lysine 9 methylation (H3K9me) and heterochromatin formation define a potential epigenetic inheritance mechanism in which positive feedback involving short interfering RNA (siRNA) amplification can be directly coupled

SUBMITTER: Yu R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6312107 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature