Effects of tethering HP1 to euchromatic regions of the Drosophila genome

Yuhong Li; John R Danzer; Pedro Alvarez; Andrew S Belmont; Lori L Wallrath

doi:10.1242/dev.00405

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Effects of tethering HP1 to euchromatic regions of the Drosophila genome

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Effects of tethering HP1 to euchromatic regions of the Drosophila genome

Yuhong Li, John R Danzer, Pedro Alvarez, Andrew S Belmont and Lori L Wallrath

Development (Cambridge), Vol.130(9), pp.1817-1824

05/2003

DOI: 10.1242/dev.00405

PMID: 12642487

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Abstract

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) is a conserved non-histone chromosomal protein enriched in heterochromatin. On Drosophila polytene chromosomes, HP1 localizes to centric and telomeric regions, along the fourth chromosome, and to specific sites within euchromatin. HP1 associates with centric regions through an interaction with methylated lysine nine of histone H3, a modification generated by the histone methyltransferase SU(VAR)3-9. This association correlates with a closed chromatin configuration and silencing of euchromatic genes positioned near heterochromatin. To determine whether HP1 is sufficient to nucleate the formation of silent chromatin at non-centric locations, HP1 was tethered to sites within euchromatic regions of Drosophila chromosomes. At 25 out of 26 sites tested, tethered HP1 caused silencing of a nearby reporter gene. The site that did not support silencing was upstream of an active gene, suggesting that the local chromatin environment did not support the formation of silent chromatin. Silencing correlated with the formation of ectopic fibers between the site of tethered HP1 and other chromosomal sites, some containing HP1. The ability of HP1 to bring distant chromosomal sites into proximity with each other suggests a mechanism for chromatin packaging. Silencing was not dependent on SU(VAR)3-9 dosage, suggesting a bypass of the requirement for histone methylation.

Animals

Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone - metabolism

Animals, Genetically Modified

Gene Silencing - radiation effects

Methyltransferases - metabolism

Methyltransferases - genetics

Gene Dosage

Drosophila - metabolism

Drosophila Proteins - metabolism

Genes, Reporter

Drosophila - genetics

Euchromatin - metabolism

Details

Title: Subtitle: Effects of tethering HP1 to euchromatic regions of the Drosophila genome
Creators: Yuhong Li - Department of Biochemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
John R Danzer
Pedro Alvarez
Andrew S Belmont
Lori L Wallrath
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Development (Cambridge), Vol.130(9), pp.1817-1824
DOI: 10.1242/dev.00405
PMID: 12642487
NLM abbreviation: Development
ISSN: 0950-1991
eISSN: 1477-9129
Publisher: England
Grant note: R01 GM042516 / NIGMS NIH HHS GM 61513 / NIGMS NIH HHS GM 58460 / NIGMS NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 05/2003
Academic Unit: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; University College Courses
Record Identifier: 9984024557802771

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