Candida albicans repetitive elements display epigenetic diversity and plasticity

• DOI: 10.1038/srep22989
• Publication Date: 2016-03-14T10:15:50Z
• Authors: Verónica Freire-B...; R. Jordan Price; Daniel Tarrant; Judith Berman; Alessia Buscaino
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Candidiasis; Genetic Variation; Acetylation; DNA Methylation; Telomere; DNA, Ribosomal; Article; Chromatin; QR; Epigenesis, Genetic; Fungal Proteins; Histones; 03 medical and health sciences; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Heterochromatin; Candida albicans; Humans; Sirtuins; Amino Acid Sequence; Gene Silencing; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid

Transcriptionally silent heterochromatin is associated with repetitive DNA. It poorly understood whether and how differs between different organisms its structure can be remodelled in response to environmental signals. Here, we address this question by analysing the chromatin state DNA repeats human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Our analyses indicate that, contrary model systems, each type of element assembled into a distinct state. Classical Sir2-dependent hypoacetylated hypomethylated rDNA locus while telomeric regions are weak that only mildly hypomethylated. Major Repeat Sequences, class tandem repeats, an intermediate bearing features both euchromatin heterochromatin. Marker gene silencing assays genome-wide RNA sequencing reveals C. albicans represses expression repeat-associated coding non-coding RNAs. We find dynamic upon change. Weak telomeres at 30 °C, robust over these 39 temperature mimicking moderate fever host. Thus albicans, differential states controls epigenetic plasticity linked adaptation.