@article{fc0c963d2c984381b929c11817f88ce5,
title = "Interrogating the function of metazoan histones using engineered gene clusters",
abstract = "Histones and their posttranslational modifications influence the regulation of many DNA-dependent processes. Although an essential role for histone-modifying enzymes in these processes is well established, defining the specific contribution of individual histone residues remains a challenge because many histone-modifying enzymes have nonhistone targets. This challenge is exacerbated by the paucity of suitable approaches to genetically engineer histone genes in metazoans. Here, we describe a platform in Drosophila for generating and analyzing any desired histone genotype, and we use it to test the invivo function of three histone residues. We demonstrate that H4K20 is neither essential for DNA replication nor for completion of development, unlike inferences drawn from analyses of H4K20 methyltransferases. We also show that H3K36 is required for viability and H3K27 is essential for maintenance of cellular identity but not for gene activation. These findings highlight the power of engineering histones to interrogate genome structure and function in animals.",
author = "McKay, {Daniel J.} and Stephen Klusza and Penke, {Taylor J.R.} and Meers, {Michael P.} and Curry, {Kaitlin P.} and McDaniel, {Stephen L.} and Malek, {Pamela Y.} and Cooper, {Stephen W.} and Tatomer, {Deirdre C.} and Lieb, {Jason D.} and Strahl, {Brian D.} and Duronio, {Robert J.} and Matera, {A. Gregory}",
note = "Funding Information: The authors thank Bill Marzluff for bringing us all together and for establishing a fun and collaborative research environment for histone and chromatin biology in Chapel Hill. We also thank A. Herzig for generous gifts of fly lines and for communicating results prior to publication. M.P.M. was supported in part by an NIH predoctoral fellowship, F31-CA177088. M.P.M., T.J.P., and S.L.M. were also supported in part by NIH predoctoral traineeships, T32-GM007092. S.K. was supported in part by a National Cancer Institute postdoctoral traineeship, T32-CA009156, and by an NIH diversity supplement to NIH grant R01-GM053034 (to A.G.M.). This work was supported by NIH grants R01-DA036897 (to R.J.D., A.G.M., and B.D.S.) and GM058921 (to R.J.D.) and by startup funds from the University of North Carolina (to D.J.M.). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 Elsevier Inc.",
year = "2015",
month = feb,
day = "9",
doi = "10.1016/j.devcel.2014.12.025",
language = "English",
volume = "32",
pages = "373--386",
journal = "Developmental Cell",
issn = "1534-5807",
number = "3",
}