| Popis: |
In C. elegans , the H3K36 methyltransferase, MES-4, helps establish germ cell fate by maintaining H3K36me2/3 at germline genes between generations. Previously, we showed that the H3K4me2 demethylase, SPR-5, and the H3K9 methyltransferase, MET-2, reprogram histone methylation at fertilization to prevent the ectopic expression of germline genes in somatic tissues. Together, this indicates that SPR-5 and MET-2 maternal reprogramming may antagonize MES-4 to establish germline versus soma. Here, we show that spr-5; met-2 mutant progeny have a severe developmental delay that is associated with the ectopic maintenance of H3K36me2/3 at MES-4 targeted germline genes in somatic tissues, and the ectopic expression of these genes. We further show that the developmental delay and the ectopic expression are dependent upon MES-4. Thus, we propose that SPR-5, MET-2, and MES-4 balance inherited histone methylation to establish germline versus soma. Without this balance, the inappropriate transcription of germline genes in somatic tissues causes developmental delay. |
