Project description:Co-transcriptional RNA processing and surveillance factors mediate heterochromatin formation in fission yeast. In addition to RNAi, RNA elimination machinery including MTREC (Mtl1-Red1 core) and the exosome are involved in facultative heterochromatin assembly, however, the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Here we show that RNA elimination factors cooperate with the conserved exoribonuclease Dhp1/Rat1/Xrn2, which couples pre-mRNA 3â-end processing to transcription termination, to promote premature termination and facultative heterochromatin formation at meiotic genes. Dhp1 also affects termination of transcripts at genes that are targets of RNAi-mediated heterochromatin assembly. Moreover, Dhp1 facilitates constitutive heterochromatin formation and silencing at centromeric and mating-type loci. Remarkably, we find that Dhp1 interacts with the Clr4/Suv39h methyltransferase complex and acts directly to nucleate heterochromatin. Our results uncover a novel role for 3â-end processing and termination machinery in gene silencing through premature termination and suggest that non-canonical termination by Dhp1 and RNA elimination factors is linked to heterochromatin assembly. These findings have important implications for understanding mechanisms of gene silencing in higher eukaryotes. Sequencing and analysis of small RNA in two S. pombe mutants
Project description:Co-transcriptional RNA processing and surveillance factors mediate heterochromatin formation in fission yeast. In addition to RNAi, RNA elimination machinery including MTREC (Mtl1-Red1 core) and the exosome are involved in facultative heterochromatin assembly, however, the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Here we show that RNA elimination factors cooperate with the conserved exoribonuclease Dhp1/Rat1/Xrn2, which couples pre-mRNA 3’-end processing to transcription termination, to promote premature termination and facultative heterochromatin formation at meiotic genes. Dhp1 also affects termination of transcripts at genes that are targets of RNAi-mediated heterochromatin assembly. Moreover, Dhp1 facilitates constitutive heterochromatin formation and silencing at centromeric and mating-type loci. Remarkably, we find that Dhp1 interacts with the Clr4/Suv39h methyltransferase complex and acts directly to nucleate heterochromatin. Our results uncover a novel role for 3’-end processing and termination machinery in gene silencing through premature termination and suggest that non-canonical termination by Dhp1 and RNA elimination factors is linked to heterochromatin assembly. These findings have important implications for understanding mechanisms of gene silencing in higher eukaryotes.
Project description:Epigenetic gene silencing plays a critical role in regulating gene expression and contributes to organismal development and cell fate acquisition in eukaryotes. In fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, heterochromatin-associated gene silencing is known to be mediated by RNA processing pathways including RNA interference (RNAi) and a 3’-5’ exoribonuclease complex exosome. Here, we report a new RNA-processing pathway that contributes to epigenetic gene silencing and assembly of heterochromatin mediated by 5’-3’ exoribonuclease Dhp1/Xrn2. Dhp1 mutation causes defective gene silencing both at peri-centromeric regions and at the silent mating type locus. Intriguingly, mutation of either one of two well-characterized Dhp1-interacting proteins, the Din1 pyrophosphohydrolase or the Rhn1 transcription termination factor, does not show silencing defects at the main heterochromatic regions. Dhp1 is essential in the sequential steps of establishing silencing in a manner independent of both RNAi and the exosome. Genomic and genetic analysis suggest that Dhp1 is involved in post-transcriptional silencing of repetitive regions through its catalytic activity. Our study is the first investigation into an unexpected role of Dhp1/Rat1/Xrn2 in chromatin-based silencing. These results elucidate how various RNA-processing pathways, acting together or independently, contribute to epigenetic regulation of the eukaryotic genome.
Project description:Epigenetic gene silencing plays a critical role in regulating gene expression and contributes to organismal development and cell fate acquisition in eukaryotes. In fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, heterochromatin-associated gene silencing is known to be mediated by RNA processing pathways including RNA interference (RNAi) and a 3’-5’ exoribonuclease complex exosome. Here, we report a new RNA-processing pathway that contributes to epigenetic gene silencing and assembly of heterochromatin mediated by 5’-3’ exoribonuclease Dhp1/Xrn2. Dhp1 mutation causes defective gene silencing both at peri-centromeric regions and at the silent mating type locus. Intriguingly, mutation of either one of two well-characterized Dhp1-interacting proteins, the Din1 pyrophosphohydrolase or the Rhn1 transcription termination factor, does not show silencing defects at the main heterochromatic regions. Dhp1 is essential in the sequential steps of establishing silencing in a manner independent of both RNAi and the exosome. Genomic and genetic analysis suggest that Dhp1 is involved in post-transcriptional silencing of repetitive regions through its catalytic activity. Our study is the first investigation into an unexpected role of Dhp1/Rat1/Xrn2 in chromatin-based silencing. These results elucidate how various RNA-processing pathways, acting together or independently, contribute to epigenetic regulation of the eukaryotic genome.
2016-01-28 | GSE77290 | GEO
Project description:A conserved factor Dhp1/Rat1/Xrn2 triggers premature transcription termination and nucleates heterochromatin to promote gene silencing
Project description:We report a function of human mRNA decapping factors in control of transcription by RNA polymerase II. Decapping proteins Edc3, Dcp1a and Dcp2 and the termination factor TTF2 co-immunoprecipitate with Xrn2, the nuclear 5'-3' exonuclease torpedo that facilitates transcription termination at the 3' ends of genes. Dcp1a, Xrn2 and TTF2 localize near transcription start sites (TSSs) by ChIP-Seq. At genes with 5' peaks of paused pol II, knockdown of decapping or termination factors, Xrn2 and TTF2, shifted polymerase away from the TSS toward upstream and downstream distal positions. This re-distribution of pol II is similar in magnitude to that caused by depletion of the elongation factor Spt5. We propose that coupled decapping of nascent transcripts and premature termination by the torpedo mechanism is a widespread mechanism that limits bidirectional pol II elongation. Regulated co-transcriptional decapping near promoter-proximal pause sites followed by premature termination could control productive pol II elongation. RNA pol II (GSE30895: GSM766171), Xrn2, TTF2 and Dcp1a were localized by ChIP-Seq in HeLa cells. RNA pol II was localized in control HEK293 cells and cells infected with lentiviruses expressing a scrambled control shRNA (scr), and shRNAs targeting the following proteins: Xrn2, TTF2, Xrn2+TTF2, Edc3, Dcp1a, and Dcp2.