ACD15, ACD21, and SLN regulate the accumulation and mobility of MBD6 to silence genes and transposable elements

Sci Adv. 2023 Nov 17;9(46):eadi9036. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adi9036. Epub 2023 Nov 15.

Abstract

DNA methylation mediates silencing of transposable elements and genes in part via recruitment of the Arabidopsis MBD5/6 complex, which contains the methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) proteins MBD5 and MBD6, and the J-domain containing protein SILENZIO (SLN). Here, we characterize two additional complex members: α-crystalline domain (ACD) containing proteins ACD15 and ACD21. We show that they are necessary for gene silencing, bridge SLN to the complex, and promote higher-order multimerization of MBD5/6 complexes within heterochromatin. These complexes are also highly dynamic, with the mobility of MBD5/6 complexes regulated by the activity of SLN. Using a dCas9 system, we demonstrate that tethering the ACDs to an ectopic site outside of heterochromatin can drive a massive accumulation of MBD5/6 complexes into large nuclear bodies. These results demonstrate that ACD15 and ACD21 are critical components of the gene-silencing MBD5/6 complex and act to drive the formation of higher-order, dynamic assemblies at CG methylation (meCG) sites.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis Proteins* / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins* / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis* / genetics
  • Arabidopsis* / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation
  • DNA Transposable Elements / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Heterochromatin / genetics
  • Heterochromatin / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Heterochromatin
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • MBD6 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Arabidopsis Proteins