Phosphorylation of Swi6/HP1 regulates transcriptional gene silencing at heterochromatin

Genes Dev. 2009 Jan 1;23(1):18-23. doi: 10.1101/gad.1708009.

Abstract

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) recruits various effectors to heterochromatin for multiple functions, but its regulation is unclear. In fission yeast, a HP1 homolog Swi6 recruits SHREC, Epe1, and cohesin, which are involved in transcriptional gene silencing (TGS), transcriptional activation, and sister chromatid cohesion, respectively. We found that casein kinase II (CK2) phosphorylated Swi6. Loss of CK2-dependent Swi6 phosphorylation alleviated heterochromatic TGS without affecting heterochromatin structure. This was due to the inhibited recruitment of SHREC to heterochromatin, accompanied by an increase in Epe1. Interestingly, loss of phosphorylation did not affect cohesion. These results indicate that CK2-dependent Swi6 phosphorylation specifically controls TGS in heterochromatin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Casein Kinase II / genetics
  • Casein Kinase II / metabolism
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
  • Gene Silencing / physiology*
  • Heterochromatin / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Schizosaccharomyces / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces / metabolism*
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / genetics
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • Heterochromatin
  • Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
  • Swi6 protein, S pombe
  • Casein Kinase II
  • casein kinase II, S pombe