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    Cell. 2002 Oct 18;111(2):197-208.

    Histone methyltransferase activity of a Drosophila Polycomb group repressor complex.

    Source

    EMBL, Gene Expression Programme, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany. mueller@embl-heidelberg.de

    Abstract

    Polycomb group (PcG) proteins maintain transcriptional repression during development, likely by creating repressive chromatin states. The Extra Sex Combs (ESC) and Enhancer of Zeste [E(Z)] proteins are partners in an essential PcG complex, but its full composition and biochemical activities are not known. A SET domain in E(Z) suggests this complex might methylate histones. We purified an ESC-E(Z) complex from Drosophila embryos and found four major subunits: ESC, E(Z), NURF-55, and the PcG repressor, SU(Z)12. A recombinant complex reconstituted from these four subunits methylates lysine-27 of histone H3. Mutations in the E(Z) SET domain disrupt methyltransferase activity in vitro and HOX gene repression in vivo. These results identify E(Z) as a PcG protein with enzymatic activity and implicate histone methylation in PcG-mediated silencing.

    PMID:
    12408864
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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