Locus-specific induction of gene expression from heterochromatin loci during cellular senescence



Tomimatsu, Kosuke, Bihary, Dora, Olan, Ioana, Parry, Aled J, Schoenfelder, Stefan, Chan, Adelyne SL, Slater, Guy St C, Ito, Yoko, Rugg-Gunn, Peter J, Kirschner, Kristina
et al (show 10 more authors) (2022) Locus-specific induction of gene expression from heterochromatin loci during cellular senescence. NATURE AGING, 2 (1). 31-+.

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Abstract

Senescence is a fate-determined state, accompanied by reorganization of heterochromatin. Although lineage-appropriate genes can be temporarily repressed through facultative heterochromatin, stable silencing of lineage-inappropriate genes often involves the constitutive heterochromatic mark, histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3). The fate of these heterochromatic genes during senescence is unclear. In the present study, we show that a small number of lineage-inappropriate genes, exemplified by the LCE2 skin genes, are derepressed during senescence from H3K9me3 regions in fibroblasts. DNA FISH experiments reveal that these gene loci, which are condensed at the nuclear periphery in proliferative cells, are decompacted during senescence. Decompaction of the locus is not sufficient for LCE2 expression, which requires p53 and C/EBPβ signaling. NLRP3, which is predominantly expressed in macrophages from an open topologically associated domain (TAD), is also derepressed in senescent fibroblasts due to the local disruption of the H3K9me3-rich TAD that contains it. NLRP3 has been implicated in the amplification of inflammatory cytokine signaling in senescence and aging, highlighting the functional relevance of gene induction from 'permissive' H3K9me3 regions in senescent cells.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Heterochromatin, Histones, Gene Expression, NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein, Cellular Senescence
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 18 Oct 2022 14:28
Last Modified: 04 May 2023 04:47
DOI: 10.1038/s43587-021-00147-y
Open Access URL: http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/277670/2/277670.pdf
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3165611