Chromatin proteins captured by ChIP-mass spectrometry are linked to dosage compensation in Drosophila

Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2013 Feb;20(2):202-9. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.2477. Epub 2013 Jan 6.

Abstract

X-chromosome dosage compensation by the MSL (male-specific lethal) complex is required in Drosophila melanogaster to increase gene expression from the single male X to equal that of both female X chromosomes. Instead of focusing solely on protein complexes released from DNA, here we used chromatin-interacting protein MS (ChIP-MS) to identify MSL interactions on cross-linked chromatin. We identified MSL-enriched histone modifications, including histone H4 Lys16 acetylation and histone H3 Lys36 methylation, and CG4747, a putative Lys36-trimethylated histone H3 (H3K36me3)-binding protein. CG4747 is associated with the bodies of active genes, coincident with H3K36me3, and is mislocalized in the Set2 mutant lacking H3K36me3. CG4747 loss of function in vivo results in partial mislocalization of the MSL complex to autosomes, and RNA interference experiments confirm that CG4747 and Set2 function together to facilitate targeting of the MSL complex to active genes, validating the ChIP-MS approach.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Blotting, Western
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Dosage Compensation, Genetic / genetics*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Female
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Methylation
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Histones
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Oxidoreductases
  • NDF protein, Drosophila
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Set2 protein, Drosophila

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE42025