Set2 and H3K36 regulate the Drosophila male X chromosome in a context-specific manner (WL3 brain)
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ABSTRACT: Current models of MSL spreading in the context of Drosophila dosage compensation (DC) focus on interactions of MSL3 (male-specific lethal 3) with histone marks; especially Set2-dependent H3 lysine-36 trimethylation (H3K36me3). However, previous studies investigating the role of H3K36me3 in DC do not fully account for: other targets of Set2, redundancy between canonical H3.2 and replication-dependent H3.3, and X chromosome effects that are not sex-specific.To differentiate amongst these possibilities and to assess whether Set2 and/or H3K36 is essential for DC, we use RNA-Seq in WL3 brain (male and female) and L1 larvae (mixed sex) to compare Set2, H3.2K36R, H3.3K36R, and combined H3K36R mutant genotypes. In brains, we observe heterogeneous regulation of chrX genes by these factors in both males and females. These effects are not clearly linked to MSL3 binding or H4K16ac occupancy, but in some groups of genes, are clearly stronger in males. At L1, we also observe heterogeneous gene regulation distinct from an H4K16R control. Simultaneous mutation of both H3.2K36 and H3.3K36 results in an increase in expression in genes most strongly reduced in H4K16R mutants. Overall, the data are inconsistent with the prevailing model wherein H3K36me3 is essential for spreading the MSL complex to genes along the male X. Rather, we propose that Set2 and H3K36 support DC indirectly, via processes that are utilized by MSL, but common to both sexes.
ORGANISM(S): Drosophila melanogaster
PROVIDER: GSE270799 | GEO | 2024/10/14
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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