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Transcription‐induced chromatin association of RNA surveillance factors mediates facultative heterochromatin formation in fission yeast
Author(s) -
Tashiro Sanki,
Asano Tomohiro,
Kanoh Junko,
Ishikawa Fuyuki
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
genes to cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1365-2443
pISSN - 1356-9597
DOI - 10.1111/gtc.12038
Subject(s) - heterochromatin , biology , heterochromatin protein 1 , chromodomain , chromatin , histone h3 , genetics , histone , euchromatin , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , rna , helicase
Facultative heterochromatin is reversibly established and disrupted during differentiation, but its regulation remains mechanistically unclear. Here, we show that two meiotic gene loci in fission yeast, mei4 and ssm4 , comprise facultative heterochromatin that is regulated in a developmental stage‐dependent manner. This heterochromatin coordinates expression levels by associating with a chromodomain protein C hp1 and an antisilencing factor E pe1. It has been recently shown that an RNA surveillance machinery for eliminating meiotic gene transcripts, which involves a cis ‐element called the determinant of selective removal ( DSR ) and trans acting factors, M mi1 and R ed1, also participates in heterochromatin formation at the meiotic genes, but the molecular mechanism underlying the process is largely unknown. By dissecting the mei4 gene, we identified a region that promotes DSR ‐dependent methylation of histone H 3 lysine 9 ( H 3 K 9). Integration of this mei4 region together with DSR into an unrelated gene results in ectopic H 3 K 9 methylation. Moreover, our results suggest that transcription of these elements induces chromatin association of M mi1, which, in turn, recruits R ed1 interacting with C lr4/ S uv39h H 3 K 9 methyltransferase. M mi1 remains associated in cells lacking R ed1, suggesting that the recruitment of R ed1 follows the chromatin association of M mi1. Overall, we provide detailed insights into the facultative heterochromatin regulation in fission yeast.