Open AccessMsc1 links dynamic Swi6/HP1 binding to cell fate determination
Author(s) -
Richard J. Lawrence,
Thomas A. Volpe
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.0811161106
Subject(s) - heterochromatin , heterochromatin protein 1 , euchromatin , mating of yeast , biology , schizosaccharomyces , schizosaccharomyces pombe , centromere , constitutive heterochromatin , genetics , cell fate determination , microbiology and biotechnology , transcription factor , saccharomyces cerevisiae , yeast , chromatin , dna , chromosome , gene
Eukaryotic genomes can be organized into distinct domains of heterochromatin or euchromatin. In the fission yeastSchizosaccharomyces pombe , assembly of heterochromatin at the silent mating-type region is critical for cell fate determination in the form of mating-type switching. Here, we report that the ubiquitin ligase, Msc1, is a critical factor required for proper cell fate determination inS. pombe . In the absence of Msc1, the in vivo mobility of Swi6 at heterochromatic foci is compromised, and centromere heterochromatin becomes hyperenriched with the heterochromatin binding protein Swi6/HP1. However, at the mating-type locus, Swi6 recruitment is defective in the absence of Msc1. Therefore, Msc1 links maintaining dynamic heterochromatin with proper heterochromatin assembly and cell fate determination. These findings have implications for understanding mechanisms of differentiation in other organisms.