Structural basis of H3K36 trimethylation by SETD2 during chromatin transcription

Science. 2025 Jan 31;387(6733):528-533. doi: 10.1126/science.adn6319. Epub 2024 Dec 12.

Abstract

During transcription, RNA polymerase II traverses through chromatin, and posttranslational modifications including histone methylations mark regions of active transcription. Histone protein H3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3), which is established by the histone methyltransferase SET domain containing 2 (SETD2), suppresses cryptic transcription, regulates splicing, and serves as a binding site for transcription elongation factors. The mechanism by which the transcription machinery coordinates the deposition of H3K36me3 is not well understood. Here we provide cryo-electron microscopy structures of mammalian RNA polymerase II-DSIF-SPT6-PAF1c-TFIIS-IWS1-SETD2-nucleosome elongation complexes, revealing that the transcription machinery regulates H3K36me3 deposition by SETD2 on downstream and upstream nucleosomes. SPT6 binds the exposed H2A-H2B dimer during transcription, and the SPT6 death-like domain mediates an interaction with SETD2 bound to a nucleosome upstream of RNA polymerase II.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatin* / chemistry
  • Chromatin* / metabolism
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy*
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase* / chemistry
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase* / metabolism
  • Histones* / chemistry
  • Histones* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Methylation
  • Nucleosomes* / chemistry
  • Nucleosomes* / metabolism
  • Nucleosomes* / ultrastructure
  • Protein Domains
  • RNA Polymerase II* / chemistry
  • RNA Polymerase II* / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors* / chemistry
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors* / metabolism

Substances

  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Histones
  • RNA Polymerase II
  • Chromatin
  • Nucleosomes
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors
  • SETD2 protein, human
  • transcription factor S-II
  • Transcription Factors
  • SETD2 protein, mouse