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

• Published in: eLife Vol. 10
• Main Authors: Kim, Heesun, Ding, Yue-He, Zhang, Gangming, Yan, Yong-Hong, Conte, Jr, Darryl, Dong, Meng-Qiu, Mello, Craig C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England eLife Science Publications, Ltd 18-05-2021; eLife Sciences Publications Ltd; eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Argonaute Proteins - genetics; Argonaute Proteins - metabolism; Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics; Chromatin; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; Chromatin remodeling; Chromatography; Cofactors; Developmental Biology; Enzymes; Gene Silencing; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genetic transcription; germline; HDAC SUMOylation; Heterochromatin; Heterochromatin - genetics; Heterochromatin - metabolism; Histone deacetylase; Histone Deacetylase 1 - genetics; Histone Deacetylase 1 - metabolism; Mutation; nuclear argonaut; Proteins; RNA; RNA Interference; RNA, Small Interfering; Scientific equipment and supplies industry; Sensors; SUMO protein; Sumoylation; Surveillance; Transcription, Genetic; Ubiquitin; Worms; United States; nuclear argonaut; C. elegans; germline; developmental biology; HDAC SUMOylation
• ISSN: 2050-084X; 2050-084X
• DOI: 10.7554/eLife.63299

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
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.