Distinct functions and temporal regulation of methylated histone H3 during early embryogenesis

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.174516
• Publication Date: 2019-09-20T14:05:13Z
• Authors: Beste Mutlu; Huei-Mei Chen; Silvia Gutnik; David H. Hall; Sabine Keppler-Ross; Susan E. Mango
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Time Factors; Transcription, Genetic; Gastrulation; Embryonic Development; Cell Count; Methylation; S Phase; Histones; 03 medical and health sciences; Heterochromatin; Animals; RNA Polymerase II; Caenorhabditis elegans; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; Interphase

ABSTRACT During the first hours of embryogenesis, formation higher-order heterochromatin coincides with loss developmental potential. Here, we examine relationship between these two events, and probe processes that contribute to timing their onset. Mutations disrupt histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferases reveal methyltransferase MET-2 helps terminate plasticity, through mono- di-methylation H3K9 (me1/me2), promotes formation, H3K9me3. Although H3K9me3 perturbs heterochromatin, embryos are still able indicating can be uncoupled. Methylated appears gradually in developing C. elegans depends on nuclear localization MET-2. We find H3K9me2 is sensitive rapid cell cycles, but not zygotic genome activation or counting. These data distinct roles for different methylation states generation plasticity by MET-2, identify cycle as a crucial parameter regulation.