Arabidopsis MORC proteins function in the efficient establishment of RNA directed DNA methylation
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PROVIDER: PRJNA672885 | ENA |
REPOSITORIES: ENA
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Project description:The Microrchidia (MORC) family of ATPases are required for transposable element (TE) silencing and heterochromatin condensation in plants and animals, and C. elegans MORC-1 has been shown to topologically entrap and condense DNA. In Arabidopsis thaliana, mutation of MORCs has been shown to reactivate silent methylated genes and transposons and to decondense heterochromatic chromocenters, despite only minor changes in the maintenance of DNA methylation. Here we provide the first evidence localizing Arabidopsis MORC proteins to specific regions of chromatin and find that MORC4 and MORC7 are closely co-localized with sites of RNA directed DNA methylation (RdDM). We further show that MORC7, when tethered to DNA by an artificial zinc finger, can facilitate the establishment of RdDM. Finally, we show that MORCs are required for the efficient RdDM mediated establishment of DNA methylation and silencing of a newly integrated FWA transgene, even though morc mutations have no effect on the maintenance of preexisting methylation at the endogenous FWA gene. We propose that MORCs function as a molecular tether in RdDM complexes to reinforce RdDM activity for methylation establishment. These findings have implications for MORC protein function in a variety of other eukaryotic organisms.
2021-07-02 | GSE160285 | GEO
Project description:The Microrchidia (MORC) family of ATPases are required for transposable element (TE) silencing and heterochromatin condensation in plants and animals, and C. elegans MORC-1 has been shown to topologically entrap and condense DNA. In Arabidopsis thaliana, mutation of MORCs has been shown to reactivate silent methylated genes and transposons and to decondense heterochromatic chromocenters, despite only minor changes in the maintenance of DNA methylation. Here we provide the first evidence localizing Arabidopsis MORC proteins to specific regions of chromatin and find that MORC4 and MORC7 are closely co-localized with sites of RNA directed DNA methylation (RdDM). We further show that MORC7, when tethered to DNA by an artificial zinc finger, can facilitate the establishment of RdDM. Finally, we show that MORCs are required for the efficient RdDM mediated establishment of DNA methylation and silencing of a newly integrated FWA transgene, even though morc mutations have no effect on the maintenance of preexisting methylation at the endogenous FWA gene. We propose that MORCs function as a molecular tether in RdDM complexes to reinforce RdDM activity for methylation establishment. These findings have implications for MORC protein function in a variety of other eukaryotic organisms.
2021-07-02 | PXD026674 | Pride
Project description:The Microrchidia (MORC) family proteins are evolutionarily conserved GHKL type ATPases involved in chromatin compaction and gene silencing. Arabidopsis MORC proteins act in the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway where they act as molecular tethers to ensure the efficient establishment of RdDM and de novo gene silencing. However, they also have RdDM independent functions in which the underlying mechanism is unknown. In this study, we examined MORC binding regions that are devoid of RdDM to shed light on MORCs RdDM independent functions. We found that MORC proteins can compact chromatin, exclude the accessibility of DNA to transcription factors (TFs) and thereby repress gene expression. We also found that MORC-mediated repression is particularly important under stress conditions. In addition, we showed that MORC proteins may regulate TFs through direct or indirect interactions. These TFs in turn regulate their own transcription, indicating a feedforward loop. Our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of MORC-mediated chromatin compaction and transcription regulation.
2023-03-27 | GSE212801 | GEO
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC8277788 | biostudies-literature
Project description:HiChIP: Efficient and sensitive analysis of protein-directed genome architecture
| PRJNA320090 | ENA
Project description:DNA methylation is a conserved epigenetic mark that is required for the silencing of transposons and introduced transgenes in eukaryotes. An RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway mediates de novo DNA methylation and thereby leads to transcriptional silencing in Arabidopsis. In this study, we find that two RNA-directed DNA methylation components interact with the microrchidia (MORC) protein MORC6 and lead to transcriptional silencing through a mechanism that is distinct from the RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway. MORC6 was previously thought to mediate transcriptional silencing through heterochromatin condensation. Our study suggests that the interaction of the RNA-directed DNA methylation components with MORC6 may mediate a link between DNA methylation and heterochromatin condensation.
2016-04-19 | GSE80370 | GEO
Project description:Background: The majority of plant transposable elements (TEs) are found in a silenced state that is epigenetically propagated by the maintenance of symmetrical DNA methylation. TE methylation is established and reinforced by a mechanism of RNA-dependent DNA methylation, which is dependent on transcription of the PolIV RNA polymerase. Recently, a pathway has been described that initiates de novo DNA methylation dependent on components of the RNAi post-transcriptional silencing pathway, independent of PolIV. To define the function of this new pathway, we have focused on the RDR6 protein, which plays a central role in the pathway we refer to as RDR6-dependent RNA-directed DNA Methylation (RDR6-RdDM). Methods: We have sequenced total small RNAs from wild-type and three mutant genotypes: ddm1, ddm1/rdr6, and rdr6. Conclusions: We demonstrate that RDR6-RdDM utilizes 21 and 22 nucleotide siRNAs to de novo methylate actively transcribing TEs. In addition, we find that the RDR6-RdDM pathway functions in the efficient initiation and re-establishment of TE transcriptional silencing, while it is not necessary to maintain trans-generational epigenetic silencing. Examination of flower bud small RNAs from wild-type and 3 mutant genotypes
2013-04-11 | E-GEOD-41755 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:H3K9 methylation (H3K9me) marks transcriptionally silent genomic regions called heterochromatin. A conserved class of HP1 proteins are critically required to establish and maintain heterochromatin. HP1 proteins bind to H3K9me, recruit factors that promote heterochromatin formation, and oligomerize to form phase-separated condensates. We do not understand how HP1 protein binding to heterochromatin establishes and maintains transcriptional silencing. Here, we demonstrate that the S.pombe HP1 homolog, Swi6, can be completely bypassed to establish silencing at ectopic and endogenous loci when an H3K4 methyltransferase, Set1 and an H3K14 acetyltransferase, Mst2 are deleted. Deleting Set1 and Mst2 enhances Clr4 enzymatic activity, leading to higher H3K9me levels and increased spreading. In contrast, Swi6 and its capacity to oligomerize were indispensable during epigenetic maintenance. Our results demonstrate the role of HP1 proteins in regulating histone modification crosstalk during establishment and identifies a genetically separable function in maintaining epigenetic memory.
2023-09-26 | GSE244017 | GEO
Project description:The MORC family of GHKL ATPases are an enigmatic class of proteins with diverse chromatin related functions. In Arabidopsis, AtMORC1, AtMORC2, and AtMORC6 act together in heterodimeric complexes to mediate transcriptional silencing of methylated DNA elements. Here, we studied Arabidopsis AtMORC4 and AtMORC7. We found that, in contrast to AtMORC1,2,6, they act to suppress a wide set of non-methylated protein-coding genes that are enriched for those involved in pathogen response. Furthermore, atmorc4 atmorc7 double mutants show a pathogen response phenotype. We found that AtMORC4 and AtMORC7 form homomeric complexes in vivo and are concentrated in discrete nuclear bodies adjacent to chromocenters. Analysis of an atmorc1,2,4,5,6,7 hextuple mutant demonstrates that transcriptional de-repression is largely uncoupled from changes in DNA methylation in plants devoid of MORC function. However, we also uncover a requirement for MORC in both DNA methylation and silencing at a small but distinct subset of RNA-directed DNA methylation target loci. These regions are characterized by poised transcriptional potential and a low density of sites for symmetric cytosine methylation. These results provide insights into the biological function of MORC proteins in higher eukaryotes.
2016-05-11 | GSE78836 | GEO
Project description:Sphingolipids, ceramides and cholesterol are integral components of cellular membranes, and they also play important roles in signal transduction by regulating the dynamics of membrane receptors through their effects on membrane fluidity. Here, we combined biochemical and functional assays with single-molecule dynamic approaches to demonstrate that the local lipid environment regulates CXCR4 organization and function and modulates chemokine-triggered directed cell migration. Prolonged treatment of T cells with neutral sphingomyelinase promoted the complete and sustained breakdown of sphingomyelins and the accumulation of the corresponding ceramides, which altered both membrane fluidity and CXCR4 nanoclustering and dynamics. Under these conditions CXCR4 retained some CXCL12-mediated signaling activity but failed to promote efficient directed cell migration. Our data underscore a critical role for the local lipid composition at the cell membrane in regulating the lateral mobility of chemokine receptors, and their ability to dynamically increase receptor density at the leading edge to promote efficient cell migration
2022-04-22 | ST002150 | MetabolomicsWorkbench