Histone H3K9 methylation promotes formation of genome compartments in Caenorhabditis elegans via chromosome compaction and perinuclear anchoring.

ABSTRACT: Genomic regions preferentially associate with regions of similar transcriptional activity, partitioning genomes into active and inactive compartments within the nucleus. Here we explore mechanisms controlling genome compartment organization in Caenorhabditis elegans and investigate roles for compartments in regulating gene expression. Distal arms of C. elegans chromosomes, which are enriched for heterochromatic histone modifications H3K9me1/me2/me3, interact with each other both in cis and in trans, while interacting less frequently with central regions, leading to genome compartmentalization. Arms are anchored to the nuclear periphery via the nuclear envelope protein CEC-4, which binds to H3K9me. By performing genome-wide chromosome conformation capture experim

SUBMITTER: Bian Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7261013 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature