Telomeric Silencing in Neurospora crassa
Author Information
Author(s): Kristina M Smith, Gregory O Kothe, Cindy B Matsen, Tamir Khlafallah, Keyur K Adhvaryu, Melissa Hemphill, Michael Freitag, Mohammad R Motamedi, Eric U Selker
Primary Institution: Institute of Molecular Biology and Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
Hypothesis
Does telomeric silencing occur in Neurospora crassa and what are the mechanisms involved?
Conclusion
Telomeric silencing in Neurospora crassa depends on histone deacetylases and methylation of histone H3 lysine 9.
Supporting Evidence
- Neurospora crassa has DNA methylation, which is unusual for organisms studied for telomeric silencing.
- Restoration of nst-1 function led to silencing of the hph marker.
- Mutation of dim-5 and hpo genes was critical for silencing of the hph marker.
- Telomeric silencing was shown to be dependent on multiple sirtuins and histone modifications.
Takeaway
This study shows that a fungus called Neurospora crassa can silence genes near its chromosome ends, and this process relies on certain proteins and chemical changes to DNA and histones.
Methodology
The study involved inserting genetic markers near telomeres in Neurospora mutants and assessing gene expression.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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