Trans-generational epigenetic regulation of C. elegans primordial germ cells

• Published in: Epigenetics & chromatin Vol. 3; no. 1; p. 15
• Main Authors: Furuhashi, Hirofumi, Takasaki, Teruaki, Rechtsteiner, Andreas, Li, Tengguo, Kimura, Hiroshi, Checchi, Paula M, Strome, Susan, Kelly, William G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central 12.08.2010; BioMed Central Ltd; BMC
• Subjects: Cell division; Epigenetics; Experiments; Genetic testing; Genetics; Genomes; Insects; Kinases; Phosphorylation; RNA polymerase
• ISSN: 1756-8935; 1756-8935
• DOI: 10.1186/1756-8935-3-15

The processes through which the germline maintains its continuity across generations has long been the focus of biological research. Recent studies have suggested that germline continuity can involve epigenetic regulation, including regulation of histone modifications. However, it is not clear how histone modifications generated in one generation can influence the transcription program and development of germ cells of the next. We show that the histone H3K36 methyltransferase maternal effect sterile (MES)-4 is an epigenetic modifier that prevents aberrant transcription activity in Caenorhabditis elegans primordial germ cells (PGCs). In mes-4 mutant PGCs, RNA Pol II activation is abnormally regulated and the PGCs degenerate. Genetic and genomewide analyses of MES-4-mediated H3K36 methylation suggest that MES-4 activity can operate independently of ongoing transcription, and may be predominantly responsible for maintenance methylation of H3K36 in germline-expressed loci. Our data suggest a model in which MES-4 helps to maintain an 'epigenetic memory' of transcription that occurred in germ cells of previous generations, and that MES-4 and its epigenetic product are essential for normal germ cell development.