The function of histone lysine methylation related SET domain group proteins in plants

Abstract

Histone methylation, which is mediated by the histone lysine (K) methyltransferases (HKMTases), is a mechanism associated with many pathways in eukaryotes. Most HKMTases have a conserved SET (Su(var) 3-9,E(z), Trithorax) domain, while the HKMTases with SET domains are called the SET domain group (SDG) proteins. In plants, only SDG proteins can work as HKMTases. In this review, we introduced the classification of SDG family proteins in plants and the structural characteristics of each subfamily, surmise the functions of SDG family members in plant growth and development processes, including pollen and female gametophyte development, flowering, plant morphology and the responses to stresses. This review will help researchers better understand the SDG proteins and histone methylation in plants and lay a basic foundation for further studies on SDG proteins. K E Y W O R D Shistone lysine (K) methyltransferase, histone methylation, HKMTases, SDG protein, SET domain group

Time to Wake Up: Epigenetic and Small-RNA-Mediated Regulation during Seed Germination

“…Arabidopsis thaliana HDACs are grouped in three families: RPD3/HDA1-like and Sirtuin 2-like, and HD2, and the role of some members has been studied in detail during seed development and germination [ 26 ]. Interestingly, HDACs could act in concert with methylation repressive mark deposition on the residue [ 27 ].…”

“…Histone lysine methylation (mono-, di- or tri-methylation) has been associated with both increase and decrease in gene expression. Histone lysine methyl transferases (HKMTases) display an evolutionarily conserved catalytic region, SET ( S uppressor of variegation, E nhancer of zeste and T rithorax) and give rise to specific epigenetic marks [ 27 ]. ARABIDOPSIS HOMOLOG TRITHORAX 1-5 (ATX1-5), ARABIDOPSIS TRITHORAX-RELATED 1-7 (ATXR1-7), and ABSENT, SMALL, OR HOMEOTIC DISCS 1 HOMOLOG 1-7 (ASHH1-7) are SET-domain methyltransferases acting on the K4 residue of histone H3 (H3K4) in Arabidopsis [ 28 ].…”

“…In addition, H3K9me2 levels tightly correlate with regions that differ in DNA methylation [ 44 ]. The Arabidopsis genome contains multiple homologues of H3K9 methyl transferase that belong to the Su(var)3-9 family (HP1 included), SUV HOMOLOGS (SUVH1-5) and SUV-RELATED HOMOLOG (SUVR4-7) [ 27 ]. Histone marks are recognized by ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers that mediate nucleosome sliding, histone variant replacement or nucleosome reconstruction to regulate specific gene expression during plant growth and development [ 45 ].…”

Gene editing applications to modulate crop flowering time and seed dormancy

“…To modulate flowering time in the oilseed crop Brassica napus, Jiang et al (2018a) took advantage of information about the role of chromatin methylation in regulating flowering in Arabidopsis, i.e., that the methylation of histone H3 lysine is involved in activating FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) (He et al 2004;Zhou et al 2020). The Arabidopsis methyltransferase SET DOMAIN GROUP8 (SDG8) controls flowering time by directly altering the H3K36 m2/3 levels at the FLC locus, and the authors targeted the SDG8 homologs BnaSDG8.A and BnaSDG8.C.…”

Chaetocin enhances callus induction by decreasing the expression of major leaf polarity genes in Nicotiana tabacum

“…The methylation of lysine (K) residues of Histone 3 (H3) and Histone 4 (H4) are the beststudied PTMs and are known as key drivers in several cellular processes (Pontvianne et al, 2010;Bannister and Kouzarides, 2011;Cheng et al, 2020). H3 core is particularly modified by methylations on K4, K9, K27, and K36 which are associated with transcriptional activation (H3K4 and H3K36) or repression (H3K27 and H3K9) by histone lysine methyltransferases (HKMTs) (Liu et al, 2010;Zhou et al, 2020). Three protein groups of HKMT enzymes, Suppressor of variegation 3-9 [SU(var) 3-9], Enhancer of zeste [E(z)], Trithorax (trx) are also named as SET domain group (SDG)…”