Symmetrically dimethylated histone H3R2 promotes global transcription during minor zygotic genome activation in mouse pronuclei

• Morita, Kohtaro

  Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University; Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

• Hatanaka, Yuki

  RIKEN BioResource Research Center; Medical Research Council (MRC) London Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London

• Ihashi, Shunya

  Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University

• Asano, Masahide

  Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

• Miyamoto, Kei

  Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University

• Matsumoto, Kazuya

  Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University

Abstract

Paternal genome reprogramming, such as protamine–histone exchange and global DNA demethylation, is crucial for the development of fertilised embryos. Previously, our study showed that one of histone arginine methylation, asymmetrically dimethylated histone H3R17 (H3R17me2a), is necessary for epigenetic reprogramming in the mouse paternal genome. However, roles of histone arginine methylation in reprogramming after fertilisation are still poorly understood. Here, we report that H3R2me2s promotes global transcription at the 1-cell stage, referred to as minor zygotic genome activation (ZGA). The inhibition of H3R2me2s by expressing a histone H3.3 mutant H3.3R2A prevented embryonic development from the 2-cell to 4-cell stages and significantly reduced global RNA synthesis and RNA polymerase II (Pol II) activity. Consistent with this result, the expression levels of MuERV-L as minor ZGA transcripts were decreased by forced expression of H3.3R2A. Furthermore, treatment with an inhibitor and co-injection of siRNA to PRMT5 and PRMT7 also resulted in the attenuation of transcriptional activities with reduction of H3R2me2s in the pronuclei of zygotes. Interestingly, impairment of H3K4 methylation by expression of H3.3K4M resulted in a decrease of H3R2me2s in male pronuclei. Our findings suggest that H3R2me2s together with H3K4 methylation is involved in global transcription during minor ZGA in mice.

Journal

• Scientific Reports

  Scientific Reports 11 2021-05-12

  Springer Nature

Keywords

• Developmental biology
• Reprogramming

Details

• CRID: 1050006662398288512
• NII Article ID: 120007035841
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89334-w
• ISSN: 20452322
• HANDLE: 2433/262794
• Web Site: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-89334-w.pdf
• Web Site: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-89334-w
• Text Lang: en
• Article Type: journal article
• Data Source:
  • IRDB
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN