<p>In multicellular organisms all cells in one individual have an identical genotype, and yet their bodies consist of many and very different tissues and thus many different cell types. Somehow there must be a difference in how genes are interpreted. So, there must be signals that tell the genes when and where to be active and inactive, respectively. In some instances a specific an expression pattern (active or inactive) is epigenetic; it is established and maintained throughout multiple rounds of cell divisions. In the developing <i>Drosophila</i> embryo, the proper expression pattern of e.g. the homeotic genes <i>Abd-B</i> and <i>Ubx</i> is to be kept active in the posterior part and silenced in the anterior. Properly silenced homeotic genes are crucial for the correct segmentation pattern of the fly and the Polycomb group (Pc-G) proteins are vital for maintaining this type of stable repression.</p><p>As part of this thesis, <i>Suppressor of zeste 12 (Su(z)12)</i> is characterized as a <i>Drosophila</i> Pc-G gene. Mutations in the gene cause widespread misexpression of several homeotic genes in embryos and larvae. Results show that the silencing of the homeotic genes <i>Abd-B</i> and <i>Ubx</i>, probably is mediated via physical binding of SU(Z)12 to Polycomb Response Elements in the BX-C. <i>Su(z)12</i> mutations are strong suppressors of position-effect-variegation and the SU(Z)12 protein binds weakly to the heterochromatic centromeric region. These results indicate that SU(Z)12 has a function in heterochromatin-mediated repression, which is an unusual feature for a Pc-G protein. The structure of the <i>Su(z)12</i> gene was determined and the deduced protein contains a C2-H2 zinc finger domain, several nuclear localization signals, and a region, the VEFS box, with high homology to mammalian and plant homologues. <i>Su(z)12 </i>was originally isolated in a screen for modifiers of the zeste-white interaction and I present results that suggests that this effect is mediated through an interaction between <i>Su(z)12 </i>and <i>zeste</i>. I also show that <i>Su(z)12</i> interact genetically with other Pc-G mutants and that the SU(Z)12 protein binds more than 100 euchromatic bands on polytene chromosomes. I also present results showing that SU(Z)12 is a subunit of two different E(Z)/ESC embryonic silencing complexes, one 1MDa and one 600 kDa complex, where the larger complex also contains PCL and RPD3. </p><p>In conclusion, results presented in this thesis show that the recently identified Pc-G gene, <i>Su(z)12</i>, is of vital importance for correct maintenance of silencing of the developmentally important homeotic genes.</p>

In multicellular organisms all cells in one individual have an identical genotype, and yet their bodies consist of many and very different tissues and thus many different cell types. Somehow there must be a difference in how genes are interpreted. So, there must be signals that tell the genes when and where to be active and inactive, respectively. In some instances a specific an expression pattern (active or inactive) is epigenetic; it is established and maintained throughout multiple rounds of cell divisions. In the developing Drosophila embryo, the proper expression pattern of e.g. the homeotic genes Abd-B and Ubx is to be kept active in the posterior part and silenced in the anterior. Properly silenced homeotic genes are crucial for the correct segmentation pattern of the fly and the Polycomb group (Pc-G) proteins are vital for maintaining this type of stable repression. As part of this thesis, Suppressor of zeste 12 (Su(z)12) is characterized as a Drosophila Pc-G gene. Mutations in the gene cause widespread misexpression of several homeotic genes in embryos and larvae. Results show that the silencing of the homeotic genes Abd-B and Ubx, probably is mediated via physical binding of SU(Z)12 to Polycomb Response Elements in the BX-C. Su(z)12 mutations are strong suppressors of position-effect-variegation and the SU(Z)12 protein binds weakly to the heterochromatic centromeric region. These results indicate that SU(Z)12 has a function in heterochromatin-mediated repression, which is an unusual feature for a Pc-G protein. The structure of the Su(z)12 gene was determined and the deduced protein contains a C2-H2 zinc finger domain, several nuclear localization signals, and a region, the VEFS box, with high homology to mammalian and plant homologues. Su(z)12 was originally isolated in a screen for modifiers of the zeste-white interaction and I present results that suggests that this effect is mediated through an interaction between Su(z)12 and zeste. I also show that Su(z)12 interact genetically with other Pc-G mutants and that the SU(Z)12 protein binds more than 100 euchromatic bands on polytene chromosomes. I also present results showing that SU(Z)12 is a subunit of two different E(Z)/ESC embryonic silencing complexes, one 1MDa and one 600 kDa complex, where the larger complex also contains PCL and RPD3. In conclusion, results presented in this thesis show that the recently identified Pc-G gene, Su(z)12, is of vital importance for correct maintenance of silencing of the developmentally important homeotic genes.

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Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-02-21Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:33:40Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pires_wl_me_sjrp.pdf: 611018 bytes, checksum: 961d88c40b2d3d5b170049ad3384f050 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Os triatomíneos são vetores do protozoário Typanosoma cruzi, agente etiológico da moléstia de Chagas. Esses insetos são hematófagos e pertencem à ordem Heteroptera e à família Reduviidae. Disseminada por grandes extensões do Brasil e de outros países latinoamericanos, a doença de Chagas representa um grave e importante problema de saúde pública, caracterizando limitações e dificuldades aos tratamentos. Isso ocorre devido à precariedade apresentada pela vida dos contingentes humanos mais expostos à infecção. Atualmente, a parasitose tem grande participação entre as doenças cardíacas na América do Sul. Segundo a Organização Mundial de Saúde, estima-se que, até a década de 90, por volta de 20 milhões de indivíduos estavam infectados pelo Trypanosoma cruzi nas áreas endêmicas. Dados atuais revelam que o número de pessoas infectadas foi reduzido para 9,8 milhões graças à intensa erradicação desses insetos. No entanto, a vigilância deve continuar, pois é fundamental para se evitar novos casos. Citogeneticamente, o interesse sobre os triatomíneos está em seus cromossomos holocêntricos e no processo incomum da meiose, cuja segregação dos sexuais é pós-reducional. O número básico de cromossomos nos triatomíneos é de 2n=22. No presente trabalho foi analisado a espermatogênese de duas espécies do gênero Triatoma (Triatoma maculata e Triatoma pseudomaculata), com ênfase aos seguintes aspectos: fases da espermatogênese; estrutura cromatínica e dos cromossomos meióticos e acompanhamento do ciclo nucleolar. Essas espécies estão distribuídas principalmente nos estados do Nordeste brasileiro e são consideradas potencialmente vetores do T. cruzi. As espécies analisadas foram cedidas pelo insetário do Serviço Especial de Saúde de Araraquara (SESA), pertencente ao Departamento de Epidemiologia da Faculdade de Saúde Pública da USP. Os... / The triatomines are vectors of the protozoan Typanosoma cruzi, etiological agent of Chagas' disease. These insects are hematophages that belong to the order Heteroptera and to the family Reduviidae. Disseminated through large portions of Brazil and of other Latin American countries, Chagas' disease represents a grave and important public health problem, characterizing limitations and difficulties in treatments. This occurs due to the precariousness presented by life contingent to humans most exposed to the infection. Currently, parasitosis presents high participation among cardiac diseases in South America. According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that, until the 1990s, approximately 20 million individuals were infected by Trypanosoma cruzi in endemic areas. Current data reveal that the number of persons infected was reduced to 9.8 million by virtue of intense eradiaction of these insects. Nevertheless, vigilance must continue, since it is fundamental to avoiding new cases. Cytogenetically, the interest in triatomines is in its holocentric chromosomes and in its uncommon meiosis process, whose sexual segregation is post-reductional. The basic number of chromosomes in triatomines is 2n=22. The present work analyzed the spermatogenesis of two species of the genus Triatoma (Triatoma maculata and Triatoma pseudomaculata), with emphasis on the following aspects: spermatogenesis phases; structure of chromatin and of meiotic chromosomes and accompaniment of the nucleolar cycle. These species are distributed principally in the states of northeastern Brazil and are considered potential vectors for T. cruzi. The species analyzed were supplied by the insectary of the Special Health Service of Araraquara (SESA), belonging to the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health at USP. The organs studied were...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Maria Tercília Vilela de Azeredo Oliveira / Banca: Alba Regina de Abreu Lima Catelani / Banca: Lilian Castiglioni / Resumo: Os triatomíneos são vetores do protozoário Typanosoma cruzi, agente etiológico da moléstia de Chagas. Esses insetos são hematófagos e pertencem à ordem Heteroptera e à família Reduviidae. Disseminada por grandes extensões do Brasil e de outros países latinoamericanos, a doença de Chagas representa um grave e importante problema de saúde pública, caracterizando limitações e dificuldades aos tratamentos. Isso ocorre devido à precariedade apresentada pela vida dos contingentes humanos mais expostos à infecção. Atualmente, a parasitose tem grande participação entre as doenças cardíacas na América do Sul. Segundo a Organização Mundial de Saúde, estima-se que, até a década de 90, por volta de 20 milhões de indivíduos estavam infectados pelo Trypanosoma cruzi nas áreas endêmicas. Dados atuais revelam que o número de pessoas infectadas foi reduzido para 9,8 milhões graças à intensa erradicação desses insetos. No entanto, a vigilância deve continuar, pois é fundamental para se evitar novos casos. Citogeneticamente, o interesse sobre os triatomíneos está em seus cromossomos holocêntricos e no processo incomum da meiose, cuja segregação dos sexuais é pós-reducional. O número básico de cromossomos nos triatomíneos é de 2n=22. No presente trabalho foi analisado a espermatogênese de duas espécies do gênero Triatoma (Triatoma maculata e Triatoma pseudomaculata), com ênfase aos seguintes aspectos: fases da espermatogênese; estrutura cromatínica e dos cromossomos meióticos e acompanhamento do ciclo nucleolar. Essas espécies estão distribuídas principalmente nos estados do Nordeste brasileiro e são consideradas potencialmente vetores do T. cruzi. As espécies analisadas foram cedidas pelo insetário do Serviço Especial de Saúde de Araraquara (SESA), pertencente ao Departamento de Epidemiologia da Faculdade de Saúde Pública da USP. Os...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The triatomines are vectors of the protozoan Typanosoma cruzi, etiological agent of Chagas' disease. These insects are hematophages that belong to the order Heteroptera and to the family Reduviidae. Disseminated through large portions of Brazil and of other Latin American countries, Chagas' disease represents a grave and important public health problem, characterizing limitations and difficulties in treatments. This occurs due to the precariousness presented by life contingent to humans most exposed to the infection. Currently, parasitosis presents high participation among cardiac diseases in South America. According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that, until the 1990s, approximately 20 million individuals were infected by Trypanosoma cruzi in endemic areas. Current data reveal that the number of persons infected was reduced to 9.8 million by virtue of intense eradiaction of these insects. Nevertheless, vigilance must continue, since it is fundamental to avoiding new cases. Cytogenetically, the interest in triatomines is in its holocentric chromosomes and in its uncommon meiosis process, whose sexual segregation is post-reductional. The basic number of chromosomes in triatomines is 2n=22. The present work analyzed the spermatogenesis of two species of the genus Triatoma (Triatoma maculata and Triatoma pseudomaculata), with emphasis on the following aspects: spermatogenesis phases; structure of chromatin and of meiotic chromosomes and accompaniment of the nucleolar cycle. These species are distributed principally in the states of northeastern Brazil and are considered potential vectors for T. cruzi. The species analyzed were supplied by the insectary of the Special Health Service of Araraquara (SESA), belonging to the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health at USP. The organs studied were...(Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Maria Tercília Vilela de Azeredo Oliveira / Banca: Hermione Elly Melara de Campos Bicudo / Banca: Patricia Pasquali Parise Maltempi / Resumo: Os heterópteros apresentam a meiose cística nos túbulos seminíferos. Esses possuem o cisto espermatogonial envolto pelas células císticas, as quais desenvolvem a função de nutrição das células em divisão celular. Quanto às características citogenéticas, esses insetos apresentam cromossomos holocinéticos, baixa variabilidade cariotípica e meiose invertida dos cromossomos sexuais. No presente trabalho foram caracterizadas as células císticas quanto a sua localização, ultraestrutura e citogenética e, também, foram analisados os aspectos citogenéticos de quatro espécies do gênero Triatoma. Foram utilizadas as técnicas de microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, citogenética convencional (orceína e AgNOR), bandamento C CMA3/DAPI e a técnica de hibridização in situ fluorescente (FISH), com sonda de DNAr 45S de Drosophila melanogaster. Os resultados indicaram que a célula cística envolve um cisto espermatogonial e apresenta um grande núcleo com invaginações citoplasmáticas. Em todas as espécies foram observados vários graus de ploidia da célula cística. Triatoma infestans e T. infestans melanosoma apresentaram vários blocos heterocromáticos com a periferia CMA3 + e o interior DAPI+. Associada às bordas dos blocos heterocromáticos foram observados os segmentos de DNAr 45S, além da presença de vários nucléolos em cada núcleo. Triatoma matogrossensis, T. rubrovaria e T. brasiliensis apresentaram apenas um bloco heterocromático com as mesmas características, com exceção de T. brasiliensis, que apresentou em algumas células vários blocos CMA3 + dispersos. Nessas espécies foi observado apenas um nucléolo com similaridade na localização dos sítios de DNAr. Quanto aos aspectos citogenéticos, todas as espécies apresentaram 2n = 20A + XY, com decréscimo do tamanho relativo dos cromossomos. Em T. infestans melanosoma os cromossomos foram... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Heteroptera, or "true bugs", exhibit meiosis in their seminiferous tubules. They posses the spermatogonial cysts that are enclosed by cyst cells, which develop the nutritional function of the cells during cell division. In terms of cytogenetic characteristics, these insects possess holokinetic chromosomes, low karyotype variability, and inverted meiosis in the sex chromosomes. In this study, cyst cells from four species of the genus Triatoma were characterized by their location, superstructure, and cytogenetic makeup. Electronic transmission microscopy techniques were used, as well as conventional cytogenetic techniques (Orcein and AgNOR), C-banding with CMA3 and DAPI banding, and Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) with a 45S DNA probe of Drosophila melanogaster. The results indicated that the the spermatogonial cyst is enclosed by the cyst cell, and that the cyst cell possesses a large nucleus with cytopasmic invaginations. In all species studied, varying degrees of ploidy were observed in the cyst cells. Triatoma infestans and T. infestans melanosoma presented with various heterochromatic blocks, with CMA3 + at the periphery and DAPI+ at the interior. Segments of rDNA 45S were found along the edges of the heterochromatic blocks, along with the presence of various nucleoli in each nucleus. Triatoma matogrossensis, T. rubrovaria and T. brasiliensis presented with only one heterochromatic block with the same characteristics (with the exception of T. brasiliensis, which presented with various dispersed CMA3 + blocks). In these species, only one nucleolus that was similar to the localization of the rDNA sites was found. All species presented with 2n = 20A + XY, with a decrease in size relative to the chromosomes. In the case of T. infestans melanosoma, the chromosomes were split into groups based on their relative sizes. The heterochromatin of this species presented... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Nous avons identifié une association poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR)-dépendante entre PARP1 et UHRF1. UHRF1 est PARylé par PARP1 et lie le PAR de façon non covalente. L’absence de PARP1 (i) perturbe l’association de UHRF1 et DNMT1, (ii) induit une ubiquitination excessive de DNMT1 par UHRF1 favorisant sa dégradation au cours du cycle, (iii) favorise la transcription des régions de l’hétérochromatine péricentrique (pHC) (iv) et perturbe la localisation de la marque répressive H4K20me3 au niveau des foyers de l’pHC. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons étudié le rôle de l’association KAP1-HP1 dans la réponse cellulaire aux dommages. L’interaction entre ces deux partenaires est essentielle pour le recrutement de KAP1 sur les sites de cassures. Après induction de cassures, l’absence d’interaction induit un délai dans la réparation des cassures double-brins et une diminution de la survie cellulaire. Une analyse détaillée suggère une déficience du mécanisme de réparation par recombinaison homologue. / We identified a poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR)-dependent interaction between PARP1 and UHRF1. UHRF1 is PARylated by PARP1 and binds PAR in a non-covalent way. The absence of PARP1 (i) impairs the UHRF1/DNMT1 interaction, (ii) induces excessive UHRF1-mediated ubiquitination of DNMT1 promoting its degradation during the cell cycle, (iii) increases the transcription of pericentric heterochromatin (pHC) regions (iv) and impairs the localization of the repressive histone mark H4K20me3 on pHC. In a second project we studied the role of the KAP1/HP1 interaction in response to DNA damage. The interaction between the two partners is essential for KAP1 recruitment to DNA damage sites. The absence of the interaction, after damage, induces a delay of the double strand break repair kinetics and decreases the cell survival rate. A more detailed analysis suggests a deficiency of the homologous recombination repair pathway.

L'hétérochromatine, de nature compacte et répétitive, limite l’accès à l'ADN et fait de la réparation des DSBs un processus difficile que les cellules doivent surmonter afin de maintenir leur intégrité génomique. Pour y étudier la réparation des DSBs, nous avons conçu un système CRISPR / Cas9 dans lequel les DSB peuvent être efficacement et spécifiquement induites dans l'hétérochromatine de fibroblastes de souris NIH3T3. En développant un système CRISPR / Cas9 hautement spécifique et robuste pour cibler l'hétérochromatine péricentrique, nous avons montré que les DSB en G1 sont positionnellement stables et réparés par NHEJ. En S / G2, ils se déplacent vers la périphérie de ce domaine pour être réparés par HR. Ce processus de relocalisation dépend de la résection et de l'exclusion de RAD51 du domaine central de l'hétérochromatine. Si ces cassures ne se relocalisent pas, elles sont réparées dans le cœur du domaine de l'hétérochromatine par NHEJ ou SSA. D'autre part, les DSBs dans l'hétérochromatine centromérique activent NHEJ et HR tout au long du cycle cellulaire. Nos résultats révèlent le choix de la voie de réparation différentielle entre l'hétérochromatine centromérique et péricentrique, ce qui régule également la position des DSBs. / Heterochromatin is the tightly packed form of repetitive DNA, essential for cell viability. Its highly compacted and repetitive nature renders DSB repair a challenging process that cells need to overcome in order to maintain their genome integrity. Developing a highly specific and robust CRISPR/Cas9 system to target pericentric heterochromatin, we showed that DSBs in G1 are positionally stable and repaired by NHEJ. In S/G2, they relocate to the periphery of this domain to be repaired by HR. This relocation process is dependent of resection and RAD51 exclusion from the core domain of heterochromatin. If these breaks fail to relocate, they are repaired within heterochromatin by NHEJ or SSA. On the other hand, DSBs in centromeric heterochromatin activate both NHEJ and HR throughout the cell cycle. Our results reveal the differential repair pathway choice between centromeric and pericentric heterochromatin that also regulates the DSB position.

Ki-67 maintient l'hétérochromatine constitutive lors de la prolifération cellulaire. La protéine Ki-67 est fortement exprimée dans le noyau des cellules de mammifères en prolifération. Sa présence est devenue un marqueur de référence en histopathologie diagnostic dans le cancer avec 330 millions de références sur des sites Internet et plus de 18 000 articles indexés avec le mot clé Ki-67 dans PubMed. Malgré son utilisation comme référence incontestable de la prolifération cellulaire, les rôles fonctionnels, les régulations et les mécanismes moléculaires où Ki-67 est impliquée demeurent obscurs. Depuis l'identification de Ki-67 en 1983, les différentes études avec l'utilisation d'outils moléculaires (anticorps, oligonucléotide antisens, shRNA, siRNA) qui inhibent l'expression de Ki-67 dans des cellules cancéreuses de tous types ont mis en évidence une forte régression à leur prolifération. La localisation prédominate de Ki-67 est dans le nucléole, son inactivation photodynamique abroge la transcription de l'ARN ribosomal qui est requis pour la prolifération cellulaire. Le consensus est que Ki-67 favorise la prolifération cellulaire, mais à ce jour aucune étude n'a mis en évidence ni un mécanisme d'action, ni un rôle essentiel de Ki-67 dans la prolifération cellulaire in vivo. Dans notre travail, nous abordons la question du rôle de Ki-67 dans les cellules humaines cancéreuses non transformées en culture ainsi qu'in vivo chez la souris. Nous avons montré que Ki-67 n'est pas nécessaire pour la prolifération cellulaire. En revanche, Ki-67 est indispensable pour maintenir la structure de l'hétérochromatine constitutive. Nous avons mis en évidence des nouveaux mécanismes de régulation de l'expression de Ki-67 au cours du cycle cellulaire, sa transcription étant contrôlé par CDK4/6 via la phosphorylation de la protéine rétinoblastome, et sa dégradation en G1 tardive via APC/C-Cdh1. Après extinction de l'expression de Ki-67 par ARNi ou par ablation du gène de Ki-67 par la nouvelle approche TALEN, nous n'avons observé aucun effet sur la synthèse de l'ARN ribosomique, sur le déroulement normal du cycle cellulaire, sur le développement embryonnaire ou la fertilité de la souris. Par contre, son extinction inhibe la progression des tumeurs dans des modèles de Xénogreffes, et induit un remodelage du paysage de l'expression de certain gènes. Notre étude par protéomique des protéines interragissant avec Ki-67 a identifié des protéines nucléolaires à l'interface entre l'hétérochromatine périnucléolaires et les composants granulaires nucléolaires. Ces complexes protéiques empêchent la dispersion de l'hétérochromatine constitutive au cours du cycle cellulaire. Au vu de nos résultats, nous concluons que dans les cellules non-proliférantes l'anémie de Ki-67 est associée à la diffusion de l'hétérochromatine constitutive. Ki-67 est indispensable à la maintenance de cette hétérochromatine qui serait essentielle pour le développement des tumeurs. / Ki-67 links constitutive heterochromatin maintenance to cell proliferation.Ubiquitous nuclear expression of Ki-67 in proliferating mammalian cells has led to its use as a benchmark diagnostic marker for cell proliferation, especially in cancer histopathology. Its importance is reflected by over 330 million hits when searching using the keyword “Ki-67” on Google, and over 18,000 papers on PubMed. In spite of its use as a surrogate marker for cell proliferation, the mechanisms of regulation of Ki-67 expression and its physiological functions in cell proliferation remain obscure. Early functional studies found that inhibition of Ki-67 expression by injection of antisense oligonucleotides or inactivating antibodies into cultured cancer cells inhibited cell proliferation. This is in agreement with later results obtained by peptide-nucleic acid, antisense oligonucleotide, siRNA or shRNA experiments in various cancer cell lines. Photodynamic inactivation of Ki-67 abrogates ribosomal RNA transcription, consistent with its predominantly nucleolar localisation and apparent requirement for cell proliferation. However, a recent study in HeLa cells found only minor effects on the cell cycle distribution upon Ki-67 knockdown. Nevertheless, Ki-67 is required for localising several nucleolar proteins to the mitotic chromosome periphery, potentially providing a mechanism for nucleolar assembly, as previously suggested by segregating nucleolar components upon cell division and chromosome segregation. Therefore, although the consensus is that Ki-67 promotes cell proliferation, this has not been clearly demonstrated, and no studies have ascertained requirements for Ki-67 in vivo.In this work, we address these questions in non-transformed human cells and cancer cells in culture and in vivo in mice. We have shown that Ki-67 is dispensable for cell proliferation but is required to maintain constitutive heterochromatin. We found that Ki-67 expression is cell cycle-dependent due to dynamic control by CDK4/6 and Cdh1. However, silencing of Ki-67 by RNAi or a TALEN-mediated Ki-67 gene ablation had no effect on ribosomal RNA synthesis, cell cycling, mouse development or fertility, but prevented tumour progression and led to remodelling of the gene expression landscape in cycling cells. Interaction proteomics and functional assays revealed that Ki-67 defines the boundary between perinucleolar heterochromatin and the nucleolar granular components, and prevents dispersal of constitutive heterochromatin during cell cycling. Conversely, Ki-67 downregulation in non-proliferating cells is associated with constitutive heterochromatin dispersal. The results suggest that Ki-67 mediates organisation of heterochromatin, and allows efficient tumour progression.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, telomeric and HM silencing requires the histone deacetylase Sir2 and the chromatin binding proteins Sir3 and Sir4, which interact to form the SIR complex. Silent chromatin formation begins with a nucleation step, followed by spreading of Sir proteins along chromatin. Overexpression of Sir3 extends silent chromatin domains, however the role of Sir protein interactions within silent chromatin extensions remains unknown. Here, we generated the Sir3 mutant, Sir3-4A, which cannot interact with Sir4 but is capable of forming silent chromatin extensions when overexpressed. Within extended silent domains, Sir2 and Sir4 enrichments are similar whether Sir3 or Sir3-4A is overexpressed, suggesting that silent chromatin extensions require Sir4 but not the interaction between Sir3 and Sir4. Tethering Sir3-4A at an HMR silencer cannot nucleate silencing in the absence of Sir3, suggesting that in addition to Sir3 recruitment, the Sir3-Sir4 interaction has at least one other function during silent chromatin nucleation.