Replication-coupled chromatin assembly generates a neuronal bilateral asymmetry in C. elegans

Nakano, S., Stillman, B., Horvitz, H. R. (2011) Replication-coupled chromatin assembly generates a neuronal bilateral asymmetry in C. elegans. Cell, 147 (7). pp. 1525-1536. ISSN 00928674 (ISSN)

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22177093
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.11.053

Abstract

Although replication-coupled chromatin assembly is known to be important for the maintenance of patterns of gene expression through sequential cell divisions, the role of replication-coupled chromatin assembly in controlling cell differentiation during animal development remains largely unexplored. Here we report that the CAF-1 protein complex, an evolutionarily conserved histone chaperone that deposits histone H3-H4 proteins onto replicating DNA, is required to generate a bilateral asymmetry in the C. elegans nervous system. A mutation in 1 of 24 C. elegans histone H3 genes specifically eliminates this aspect of neuronal asymmetry by causing a defect in the formation of a histone H3-H4 tetramer and the consequent inhibition of CAF-1-mediated nucleosome formation. Our results reveal that replication-coupled nucleosome assembly is necessary to generate a bilateral asymmetry in C. elegans neuroanatomy and suggest that left-right asymmetric epigenetic regulation can establish bilateral asymmetry in the nervous system. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.

Item Type: Paper
Additional Information:
Subjects: bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > DNA replication
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > Chromatin dynamics
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Stillman lab
Highlight: Stillman, Bruce W.
Depositing User: CSHL Librarian
Date: 2011
Date Deposited: 02 Mar 2012 18:59
Last Modified: 09 Sep 2015 14:03
PMCID: PMC3290763
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/25030

Actions (login required)

Administrator's edit/view item Administrator's edit/view item
CSHL HomeAbout CSHLResearchEducationNews & FeaturesCampus & Public EventsCareersGiving