A conserved RNA degradation complex required for spreading and epigenetic inheritance of heterochromatin.

ABSTRACT: Heterochromatic domains containing histone H3 lysine 9 methylation (H3K9me) can be epigenetically inherited independently of underlying DNA sequence. To gain insight into the mechanisms that mediate epigenetic inheritance, we used a Schizosaccharomyces pombe inducible heterochromatin formation system to perform a genetic screen for mutations that abolish heterochromatin inheritance without affecting its establishment. We identified mutations in several pathways, including the conserved and essential Rix1-associated complex (henceforth the rixosome), which contains RNA endonuclease and polynucleotide kinase activities with known roles in ribosomal RNA processing. We show that the rixosome is required for spreading and epigenetic inheritance of heterochromatin in fission yeast. Viable

SUBMITTER: Shipkovenska G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7269676 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature