The jet-like chromatin structure defines active secondary metabolism in fungi.
Nucleic Acids Res
; 52(9): 4906-4921, 2024 May 22.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38407438
ABSTRACT
Eukaryotic genomes are spatially organized within the nucleus in a nonrandom manner. However, fungal genome arrangement and its function in development and adaptation remain largely unexplored. Here, we show that the high-order chromosome structure of Fusarium graminearum is sculpted by both H3K27me3 modification and ancient genome rearrangements. Active secondary metabolic gene clusters form a structure resembling chromatin jets. We demonstrate that these jet-like domains, which can propagate symmetrically for 54 kb, are prevalent in the genome and correlate with active gene transcription and histone acetylation. Deletion of GCN5, which encodes a core and functionally conserved histone acetyltransferase, blocks the formation of the domains. Insertion of an exogenous gene within the jet-like domain significantly augments its transcription. These findings uncover an interesting link between alterations in chromatin structure and the activation of fungal secondary metabolism, which could be a general mechanism for fungi to rapidly respond to environmental cues, and highlight the utility of leveraging three-dimensional genome organization in improving gene transcription in eukaryotes.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Chromatin
/
Chromosomes, Fungal
/
Secondary Metabolism
/
Fusarium
Language:
En
Journal:
Nucleic Acids Res
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China