Histone H3S10 phosphorylation by the JIL-1 kinase in pericentric heterochromatin and on the fourth chromosome creates a composite H3S10phK9me2 epigenetic mark

Chao Wang, Yeran Li, Weili Cai, Xiaomin Bao, Jack Girton, Jørgen Johansen*, Kristen M. Johansen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The JIL-1 kinase mainly localizes to euchromatic interband regions of polytene chromosomes and is the kinase responsible for histone H3S10 phosphorylation at interphase in Drosophila. However, recent findings raised the possibility that the binding of some H3S10ph antibodies may be occluded by the H3K9me2 mark obscuring some H3S10 phosphorylation sites. Therefore, we have characterized an antibody to the epigenetic H3S10phK9me2 double mark as well as three commercially available H3S10ph antibodies. The results showed that for some H3S10ph antibodies their labeling indeed can be occluded by the concomitant presence of the H3K9me2mark. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the double H3S10phK9me2 mark is present in pericentric heterochromatin as well as on the fourth chromosome of wild-type polytene chromosomes but not in preparations from JIL-1 or Su(var)3-9 null larvae. Su(var)3-9 is a methyltransferase mediating H3K9 dimethylation. Furthermore, the H3S10phK9me2 labeling overlapped with that of the non-occluded H3S10ph antibodies as well as with H3K9me2 antibody labeling. Interestingly, when a Lac-I-Su(var)3-9 transgene is overexpressed, it upregulates H3K9me2 dimethylation on the chromosome arms creating extensive ectopic H3S10phK9me2 marks suggesting that the H3K9 dimethylation occurred at euchromatic H3S10ph sites. This is further supported by the finding that under these conditions euchromatic H3S10ph labeling by the occluded antibodies was abolished. Thus, our findings indicate a novel role for the JIL-1 kinase in epigenetic regulation of heterochromatin in the context of the chromocenter and fourth chromosome by creating a composite H3S10phK9me2 mark together with the Su(var)3-9 methyltransferase.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)273-280
Number of pages8
JournalChromosoma
Volume123
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2014

Funding

Acknowledgments We thank members of the laboratory for discussion, advice, and critical reading of the manuscript. We especially thank Dr. L. Wallrath for providing fly stocks. This work was supported by National Institute of Health Grant GM062916 (KMJ/JJ).

Keywords

  • Drosophila
  • Fourth chromosome
  • H3K9 dimethylation
  • H3S10 phosphorylation
  • Heterochromatin
  • JIL-1 kinase
  • Occluded antibody

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics(clinical)
  • Genetics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Histone H3S10 phosphorylation by the JIL-1 kinase in pericentric heterochromatin and on the fourth chromosome creates a composite H3S10phK9me2 epigenetic mark'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this