Repression of Germline Genes in Caenorhabditis elegans Somatic Tissues by H3K9 Dimethylation of Their Promoters.

ABSTRACT: Repression of germline-promoting genes in somatic cells is critical for somatic development and function. To study how germline genes are repressed in somatic tissues, we analyzed key histone modifications in three Caenorhabditis elegans synMuv B mutants, lin-15B, lin-35, and lin-37-all of which display ectopic expression of germline genes in the soma. LIN-35 and LIN-37 are members of the conserved DREAM complex. LIN-15B has been proposed to work with the DREAM complex but has not been shown biochemically to be a member of the complex. We found that, in wild-type worms, synMuv B target genes and germline genes are enriched for the repressive histone modification dimethylation of histone H3 on lysine 9 (H3K9me2) at their promoters. Genes with H3K9me2 promoter loc

SUBMITTER: Rechtsteiner A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6499516 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature