HDAC1 SUMOylation promotes Argonaute-directed transcriptional silencing in C. elegans

Elife. 2021 May 18:10:e63299. doi: 10.7554/eLife.63299.

Abstract

Eukaryotic cells use guided search to coordinately control dispersed genetic elements. Argonaute proteins and their small RNA cofactors engage nascent RNAs and chromatin-associated proteins to direct transcriptional silencing. The small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) has been shown to promote the formation and maintenance of silent chromatin (called heterochromatin) in yeast, plants, and animals. Here, we show that Argonaute-directed transcriptional silencing in Caenorhabditis elegans requires SUMOylation of the type 1 histone deacetylase HDA-1. Our findings suggest how SUMOylation promotes the association of HDAC1 with chromatin remodeling factors and with a nuclear Argonaute to initiate de novo heterochromatin silencing.

Keywords: C. elegans; HDAC SUMOylation; developmental biology; germline; nuclear argonaut.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Argonaute Proteins / genetics*
  • Argonaute Proteins / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
  • Gene Silencing
  • Heterochromatin / genetics
  • Heterochromatin / metabolism
  • Histone Deacetylase 1 / genetics*
  • Histone Deacetylase 1 / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Sumoylation*
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • Argonaute Proteins
  • Heterochromatin
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Histone Deacetylase 1