[HTML][HTML] Loss of the Suv39h histone methyltransferases impairs mammalian heterochromatin and genome stability

AHFM Peters, D O'Carroll, H Scherthan, K Mechtler… - Cell, 2001 - cell.com
AHFM Peters, D O'Carroll, H Scherthan, K Mechtler, S Sauer, C Schöfer, K Weipoltshammer…
Cell, 2001cell.com
Histone H3 lysine 9 methylation has been proposed to provide a major" switch" for the
functional organization of chromosomal subdomains. Here, we show that the murine Suv39h
histone methyltransferases (HMTases) govern H3-K9 methylation at pericentric
heterochromatin and induce a specialized histone methylation pattern that differs from the
broad H3-K9 methylation present at other chromosomal regions. Suv39h-deficient mice
display severely impaired viability and chromosomal instabilities that are associated with an …
Abstract
Histone H3 lysine 9 methylation has been proposed to provide a major "switch" for the functional organization of chromosomal subdomains. Here, we show that the murine Suv39h histone methyltransferases (HMTases) govern H3-K9 methylation at pericentric heterochromatin and induce a specialized histone methylation pattern that differs from the broad H3-K9 methylation present at other chromosomal regions. Suv39h-deficient mice display severely impaired viability and chromosomal instabilities that are associated with an increased tumor risk and perturbed chromosome interactions during male meiosis. These in vivo data assign a crucial role for pericentric H3-K9 methylation in protecting genome stability, and define the Suv39h HMTases as important epigenetic regulators for mammalian development.
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