The Drosophila DAXX like protein (DLP) cooperates with ASF1 for H3.3 deposition and heterochromatin formation.

Fiche publication


Date publication

mars 2017

Journal

Molecular and cellular biology

Auteurs

Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr HAMICHE Ali, Dr RAMAIN Philippe


Tous les auteurs :
Fromental-Ramain C, Ramain P, Hamiche A

Résumé

Histone variants are non-allelic isoforms of canonical histones and they are deposited, in contrast to canonical histones, in a replication-independent (RI) manner. RI deposition of H3.3, a histone variant from the H3.3 family, is mediated in mammals by distinct pathways involving either the histone regulator A (HIRA) complex or the death-associated protein (DAXX)/α-thalassemia X-linked mental retardation protein (ATRX) complex. Here, we investigated the function of Drosophila DAXX Like Protein (DLP) by using both fly genetics approaches and protein biochemistry. DLP specifically interacts with H3.3 and shows a prominent localization on the base of the X chromosome, where it appears to act in concert with XNP, the Drosophila homolog of ATRX, in heterochromatin assembly and maintenance. The functional association between DLP and XNP is further supported by a series of experiments, which illustrate genetic interactions and DLP-XNP-dependent localization of specific chromosomal proteins. In addition, DLP both participates in RI deposition of H3.3 and associates with the anti-silencing factor-1 (ASF1). We suggest, in agreement with a recently proposed model, that DLP and ASF1 are part of a pre-deposition complex, which is recruited by XNP and is necessary to prevent DNA exposure in the nucleus.

Mots clés

ASF1, DLP, H3.3, XNP, heterochromatin, histone variant

Référence

Mol. Cell. Biol.. 2017 Mar;: