Distribution and maintenance of histone H3 lysine 36 trimethylation in transcribed locus

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 16;10(3):e0120200. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120200. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Post-translational modifications of core histones play an important role in the epigenetic regulation of chromatin dynamics and gene expression. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae methylation marks at K4, K36, and K79 of histone H3 are associated with gene transcription. Although Set2-mediated H3K36 methylation is enriched throughout the coding region of active genes and prevents aberrant transcriptional initiation within coding sequences, it is not known if transcription of one locus impacts the methylation pattern of neighbouring areas and for how long H3K36 methylation is maintained after transcription termination. Our results demonstrate that H3K36 methylation is restricted to the transcribed sequence only and the modification does not spread to adjacent loci downstream from transcription termination site. We also show that H3K36 trimethylation mark persists in the locus for at least 60 minutes after transcription inhibition, suggesting a short epigenetic memory for recently occurred transcriptional activity. Our results indicate that both replication-dependent exchange of nucleosomes and the activity of histone demethylases Rph1, Jhd1 and Gis1 contribute to the turnover of H3K36 methylation upon shut-down of transcription.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Histone Demethylases / metabolism
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases / metabolism
  • Methylation
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Transcription Termination, Genetic

Substances

  • Histones
  • RPH1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • GIS1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Histone Demethylases
  • Jhd1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases
  • Methyltransferases
  • Set2 protein, S cerevisiae

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Estonian Research Council (grants ETF9188 and IUT20-23). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.