Spreading and epigenetic inheritance of heterochromatin require a critical density of histone H3 lysine 9 tri-methylation.

ABSTRACT: Heterochromatin assembly requires methylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me) and serves as a paradigm for understanding the importance of histone modifications in epigenetic genome control. Heterochromatin is nucleated at specific genomic sites and spreads across extended chromosomal domains to promote gene silencing. Moreover, heterochromatic structures can be epigenetically inherited in a self-templating manner, which is critical for stable gene repression. The spreading and inheritance of heterochromatin are believed to be dependent on preexisting H3K9 tri-methylation (H3K9me3), which is recognized by the histone methyltransferase Clr4/Suv39h via its chromodomain, to promote further deposition of H3K9me. However, the process involving the coupling of the "read" and "write" capabilities

SUBMITTER: Cutter DiPiazza AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8179192 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature