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SCML2 Establishes the Male Germline Epigenome through Regulation of Histone H2A Ubiquitination

Gametogenesis is dependent on the expression of germline-specific genes. However, it remains unknown how the germline epigenome is distinctly established from that of somatic lineages. Here we show that genes commonly expressed in somatic lineages and spermatogenesis-progenitor cells undergo repress...

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Published in:Developmental cell 2015-03, Vol.32 (5), p.574-588
Main Authors: Hasegawa, Kazuteru, Sin, Ho-Su, Maezawa, So, Broering, Tyler J., Kartashov, Andrey V., Alavattam, Kris G., Ichijima, Yosuke, Zhang, Fan, Bacon, W. Clark, Greis, Kenneth D., Andreassen, Paul R., Barski, Artem, Namekawa, Satoshi H.
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Language:English
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Summary:Gametogenesis is dependent on the expression of germline-specific genes. However, it remains unknown how the germline epigenome is distinctly established from that of somatic lineages. Here we show that genes commonly expressed in somatic lineages and spermatogenesis-progenitor cells undergo repression in a genome-wide manner in late stages of the male germline and identify underlying mechanisms. SCML2, a germline-specific subunit of a Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1), establishes the unique epigenome of the male germline through two distinct antithetical mechanisms. SCML2 works with PRC1 and promotes RNF2-dependent ubiquitination of H2A, thereby marking somatic/progenitor genes on autosomes for repression. Paradoxically, SCML2 also prevents RNF2-dependent ubiquitination of H2A on sex chromosomes during meiosis, thereby enabling unique epigenetic programming of sex chromosomes for male reproduction. Our results reveal divergent mechanisms involving a shared regulator by which the male germline epigenome is distinguished from that of the soma and progenitor cells. [Display omitted] •SCML2 regulates global silencing of somatic/progenitor genes in the male germline•SCML2 is a germline-specific subunit of Polycomb repressive complex 1•SCML2 establishes H2A ubiquitination to silence somatic/progenitor genes on autosomes•SCML2 prevents H2A ubiquitination on meiotic sex chromosomes Hasegawa et al. show that SCML2, a germline-specific subunit of a Polycomb repressive complex 1, mediates genome-wide repression of genes commonly expressed in somatic lineages and spermatogenesis-progenitor cells in late stages of the male germline. SCML2 acts by differentially regulating histone H2A ubiquitination on autosomes versus meiotic sex chromosomes.
ISSN:1534-5807
1878-1551
DOI:10.1016/j.devcel.2015.01.014