Prepatterning of developmental gene expression by modified histones before zygotic genome activation.

TitlePrepatterning of developmental gene expression by modified histones before zygotic genome activation.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsLindeman, LC, Andersen, IS, Reiner, AH, Li, N, Aanes, H, Østrup, O, Winata, CL, Mathavan, S, Müller, F, Aleström, P, Collas, P
JournalDev Cell
Volume21
Issue6
Pagination993-1004
Date Published2011 Dec 13
ISSN1878-1551
KeywordsAnimals, Body Patterning, Chromatin, Epigenesis, Genetic, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Histones, Male, Methylation, Multigene Family, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Spermatozoa, Zebrafish, Zebrafish Proteins
Abstract

A hallmark of anamniote vertebrate development is a window of embryonic transcription-independent cell divisions before onset of zygotic genome activation (ZGA). Chromatin determinants of ZGA are unexplored; however, marking of developmental genes by modified histones in sperm suggests a predictive role of histone marks for ZGA. In zebrafish, pre-ZGA development for ten cell cycles provides an opportunity to examine whether genomic enrichment in modified histones is present before initiation of transcription. By profiling histone H3 trimethylation on all zebrafish promoters before and after ZGA, we demonstrate here an epigenetic prepatterning of developmental gene expression. This involves pre-ZGA marking of transcriptionally inactive genes involved in homeostatic and developmental regulation by permissive H3K4me3 with or without repressive H3K9me3 or H3K27me3. Our data suggest that histone modifications are instructive for the developmental gene expression program.

DOI10.1016/j.devcel.2011.10.008
Alternate JournalDev. Cell
Citation Key34
PubMed ID22137762