Logo image
Heterochromatin protein 1a is required for an open chromatin structure
Journal article   Open access

Heterochromatin protein 1a is required for an open chromatin structure

Diane E Cryderman, Michael W Vitalini and Lori L Wallrath
Transcription, Vol.2(2), pp.95-99
2011
DOI: 10.4161/trns.2.2.14687
PMCID: PMC3062402
PMID: 21468237
url
https://doi.org/10.4161/trns.2.2.14687View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The Drosophila melanogaster fourth chromosome contains interspersed domains of active and repressive chromatin. We investigated a stock harboring a silenced transgene inserted into Dyrk3 and near Caps —two expressed genes on chromosome four. In an HP1a-deficient background, transgene expression was activated while, paradoxically, expression of Dyrk3 and Caps was reduced. We found that the promoters of Dyrk3 and Caps contained DNase I hypersensitive sites but also possessed methylated histone H3 and HP1a, marks of repressive chromatin. In HP1a-deficient flies, the Dyrk3 and Caps promoters displayed diminished accessibility to nuclease digestion, revealing a surprising role for HP1a in opening chromatin.
histone methyltransferase gene regulation Drosophila Research Paper Heterochromatin Protein 1 chromatin heterochromatin

Details

Metrics

Logo image