An Epigenetic Priming Mechanism Mediated by Nutrient Sensing Regulates Transcriptional Output during C. elegans Development

Stec, N., Doerfel, K., Hills-Muckey, K., Ettorre, V. M., Ercan, S., Keil, W., Hammell, C. M. (December 2020) An Epigenetic Priming Mechanism Mediated by Nutrient Sensing Regulates Transcriptional Output during C. elegans Development. Curr Biol. ISSN 0960-9822

Abstract

Although precise tuning of gene expression levels is critical for most developmental pathways, the mechanisms by which the transcriptional output of dosage-sensitive molecules is established or modulated by the environment remain poorly understood. Here, we provide a mechanistic framework for how the conserved transcription factor BLMP-1/Blimp1 operates as a pioneer factor to decompact chromatin near its target loci during embryogenesis (hours prior to major transcriptional activation) and, by doing so, regulates both the duration and amplitude of subsequent target gene transcription during post-embryonic development. This priming mechanism is genetically separable from the mechanisms that establish the timing of transcriptional induction and functions to canalize aspects of cell-fate specification, animal size regulation, and molting. A key feature of the BLMP-1-dependent transcriptional priming mechanism is that chromatin decompaction is initially established during embryogenesis and maintained throughout larval development by nutrient sensing. This anticipatory mechanism integrates transcriptional output with environmental conditions and is essential for resuming normal temporal patterning after animals exit nutrient-mediated developmental arrests.

Item Type:	Paper
Additional Information:	1879-0445 Stec, Natalia Doerfel, Katja Hills-Muckey, Kelly Ettorre, Victoria M Ercan, Sevinc Keil, Wolfgang Hammell, Christopher M Journal Article England Curr Biol. 2020 Dec 17:S0960-9822(20)31773-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.11.060.
Subjects:	bioinformatics organism description > animal > C elegans bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > transcription bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification organism description > animal bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > epigenetics bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > epigenetics bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein types bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein types > transcription factor
CSHL Authors:	Hammell, Christopher M. Stec, Natalia Doerfel, Katja Hills-Muckey, Kelly
Communities:	CSHL labs > Hammell C. lab CSHL Cancer Center Program CSHL Cancer Center Program > Gene Regulation and Inheritance Program
Depositing User:	Matthew Dunn
Date:	17 December 2020
Date Deposited:	11 Jan 2021 17:27
Last Modified:	13 Feb 2024 19:17
PMCID:	PMC7904604
Related URLs:	Publisher
URI:	https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/39884

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