TY - JOUR
T1 - The C. elegans H3K27 demethylase UTX-1 is essential for normal development, independent of its enzymatic activity
AU - Vandamme, Julien
AU - Lettier, Gaëlle
AU - Sidoli, Simone
AU - Di Schiavi, Elia
AU - Nørregaard Jensen, Ole
AU - Salcini, Anna Elisabetta
PY - 2012/5
Y1 - 2012/5
N2 - Epigenetic modifications influence gene expression and provide a unique mechanism for fine-tuning cellular differentiation and development in multicellular organisms. Here we report on the biological functions of UTX-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans homologue of mammalian UTX, a histone demethylase specific for H3K27me2/3. We demonstrate that utx-1 is an essential gene that is required for correct embryonic and postembryonic development. Consistent with its homology to UTX, UTX-1 regulates global levels of H3K27me2/3 in C. elegans. Surprisingly, we found that the catalytic activity is not required for the developmental function of this protein. Biochemical analysis identified UTX-1 as a component of a complex that includes SET-16(MLL), and genetic analysis indicates that the defects associated with loss of UTX-1 are likely mediated by compromised SET-16/UTX-1 complex activity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that UTX-1 is required for many aspects of nematode development; but, unexpectedly, this function is independent of its enzymatic activity.
AB - Epigenetic modifications influence gene expression and provide a unique mechanism for fine-tuning cellular differentiation and development in multicellular organisms. Here we report on the biological functions of UTX-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans homologue of mammalian UTX, a histone demethylase specific for H3K27me2/3. We demonstrate that utx-1 is an essential gene that is required for correct embryonic and postembryonic development. Consistent with its homology to UTX, UTX-1 regulates global levels of H3K27me2/3 in C. elegans. Surprisingly, we found that the catalytic activity is not required for the developmental function of this protein. Biochemical analysis identified UTX-1 as a component of a complex that includes SET-16(MLL), and genetic analysis indicates that the defects associated with loss of UTX-1 are likely mediated by compromised SET-16/UTX-1 complex activity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that UTX-1 is required for many aspects of nematode development; but, unexpectedly, this function is independent of its enzymatic activity.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84863671360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84863671360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002647
DO - 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002647
M3 - Article
C2 - 22570628
AN - SCOPUS:84863671360
SN - 1553-7390
VL - 8
JO - PLoS Genetics
JF - PLoS Genetics
IS - 5
M1 - e1002647
ER -
