The epigenetic control of stemness in CD8 + T cell fate commitment

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aah6499
• Publication Date: 2018-01-16T22:40:52Z
• Authors: Luigia Pace; Christel Goudot; Elina Zueva; Paul Gueguen; Nina Burgdorf; Joshua J. Waterfall; Jean-Pierre Quivy; Geneviève Almouzni; Sebastian Amigorena
• Keywords: Reprogramming; Priming (agriculture)

After priming, naïve CD8+ T lymphocytes establish specific heritable transcription programs that define progression to long-lasting memory cells or short-lived effector cells. Although lineage specification is critical for protection, it remains unclear how chromatin dynamics contributes the control of gene expression programs. We explored role silencing by histone methyltransferase Suv39h1. In murine activated after Listeria monocytogenes infection, Suv39h1-dependent trimethylation H3 lysine 9 controls a set stem cell-related genes. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed defect in stem/memory genes selectively Suv39h1-defective cell effectors. As result, show sustained survival and increased long-term reprogramming capacity. Thus, Suv39h1 plays marking silence during terminal differentiation.