Rhythmic oscillation of histone acetylation and methylation at the Arabidopsis central clock loci

• Published in: Molecules and cells 2012, 34(3), , pp.279-281
• Main Authors: Song, H.R., Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Noh, Y.S., Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylation; ARABIDOPSIS; Arabidopsis - physiology; Arabidopsis Proteins - genetics; Arabidopsis Proteins - metabolism; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Cell Biology; CHROMATIN; CHROMATINE; circadian clock; Circadian Clocks - genetics; circadian rhythm; Circadian Rhythm - genetics; CROMATINA; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; histone modification; Histones - genetics; Histones - metabolism; Life Sciences; Lysine - metabolism; Methylation; Research Article; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; 생물학
• ISSN: 1016-8478; 0219-1032
• DOI: 10.1007/s10059-012-0103-5

Circadian clock genes are regulated by a transcriptional-translational feedback loop. In Arabidopsis, LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY) and CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1) transcripts are highly expressed in the morning. Translated LHY and CCA1 proteins repress the expression of TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION 1 (TOC1), which peaks in the evening. TOC1 protein induces expression of LHY and CCA1, forming a negative feedback loop which is believed to constitute the oscillatory mechanism of the clock. The rhythmic oscillation of mouse clock genes mPERIOD 1 (mPER1) and mPER2 has been correlated with regular alteration of chromatin structure through histone acetylation/deacetylation. However, little is known about the relationship between the transcriptional activity of Arabidopsis clock genes and their chromatin status. Here, we report that histone H3 acetylation (H3Ac) and H3 lysine 4 tri-methylation (H3K4me3) levels at LHY, CCA1, and TOC1 are positively correlated with the rhythmic transcript levels of these genes, whereas H3K36me2 level shows a negative correlation. Thus, our study suggests rhythmic transcription of Arabidopsis clock genes might be regulated by rhythmic histone modification, and it provides a platform for future identification of clock-controlling histone modifiers.