Histone methyltransferase MET-2 differentially regulates autosome and X-chromosome structure and transcription during meiosis in C. elegans

Abstract

During meiosis, accurate chromosome segregation requires significant condensation and compaction. These processes are mediated by condensins, cohesins, and histone tail modifications. We identified that MET-2, a histone methyltransferase that catalyzes the dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2), differentially impacts chromosome size in the male vs. female C. elegans germline. In met-2 null worms, autosomes during spermatogenesis are significantly larger than wild type, while chromosome size during oogenesis is unaffected. X-univalent size in males is also unaffected by loss of MET-2, indicating MET-2 differentially regulates autosomal and X-chromosome compaction in male spermatogenesis. Autosome size is not changed when males harbor a catalytically deficient MET-2 (met-2CD) or have mutations preventing germline histone H3K9 methylation (H3K9R). In addition, met-2 males, in contrast to met-2CD or H3K9R males, have more active RNA pol II in later stages of meiosis. These data suggest MET-2 plays a noncatalytic role in mediating chromosome structure and transcription. In met-2 male germ lines, genes on the X chromosome, which is typically enriched in H3K9me2, are significantly more likely to be upregulated than genes on autosomes, even though X-univalent size is unchanged. These results suggest that MET-2 plays a sex-specific role that is not limited to its enzymatic activity.