Recognition of H3K9me1 by maize RNA-directed DNA methylation factor SHH2.
Wang, Y., Zhou, X., Luo, J., Lv, S., Liu, R., Du, X., Jia, B., Yuan, F., Zhang, H., Du, J.(2021) J Integr Plant Biol 63: 1091-1096
- PubMed: 33913587 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.13103
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
7EEZ, 7EF0, 7EF1, 7EF2, 7EF3 - PubMed Abstract: 
RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) is a plant-specific de novo DNA methylation pathway, which has extensive cross-talk with histone modifications. Here, we report that the maize RdDM regulator SAWADEE HOMEODOMAIN HOMOLOG 2 (SHH2) is an H3K9me1 reader. Our structural studies reveal that H3K9me1 recognition is achieved by recognition of the methyl group via a classic aromatic cage and hydrogen-bonding and salt-bridge interactions with the free protons of the mono-methyllysine. The di- and tri-methylation states disrupt the polar interactions, decreasing the binding affinity. Our study reveals a mono-methyllysine recognition mechanism which potentially links RdDM to H3K9me1 in maize.
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics and Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201602, China.
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