Histone deacetylation and cytosine methylation are required for the normal compartmentalization of heterochromatin in the genome organization of Neurospora crassa [Hi-C]
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ABSTRACT: Chromosomes must correctly fold in eukaryotic nuclei for proper genome function. Eukaryotic organisms hierarchically organize their genomes: in the fungus Neurospora crassa, chromatin fiber loops compact into Topologically Associated Domain (TAD)-like structures that are anchored by heterochromatic region aggregates. However, insufficient information exists on how histone post-translational modifications, including acetylation, impact genome organization. In Neurospora, the HCHC (HDA-1, CDP-2, HP1, CHAP) complex deacetylates heterochromatic regions including centromeres: loss of individual HCHC members increases centromeric acetylation and cytosine methylation. Here, we evaluate the role of the HCHC complex on genome organization using chromosome conformation capture with high-throughput sequencing (Hi-C) in Δcdp-2 or Δchap deletion strains. CDP-2 loss increases interactions between intra- and inter-chromosomal heterochromatic regions, while removal of CHAP decreases heterochromatic region compaction. Individual HCHC mutants exhibit different histone PTM patterns genome-wide: in Dcdp-2, heterochromatic H4K16 acetylation is increased, yet some heterochromatic regions lose H3K9 trimethylation, which locally increases inter-heterochromatin contacts; CHAP loss produces minimal acetylation changes but increases H3K9me3 enrichment in heterochromatin. Furthermore, deletion of the DIM-2 DNA methyltransferase in a Δcdp-2 background causes extensive genome disorder, as heterochromatic-euchromatic contacts increase despite additional H3K9me3 enrichment. Our results highlight how enhanced cytosine methylation ensures heterochromatic compartmentalization when silenced regions are acetylated.
ORGANISM(S): Neurospora crassa
PROVIDER: GSE232934 | GEO | 2023/07/03
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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