Distribution of methylated histones and histone methyltransferases in chicken erythrocyte chromatin.

The relationship between histone methylation and the transcriptionally active chromatin state was investigated. Immature chicken erythrocytes, which were obtained from the peripheral blood of anemic birds, were incubated with L-[methyl-3H]methionine and cycloheximide. Under these conditions histones H3 and H4 are methylated. The erythrocyte nuclei were incubated with micrococcal nuclease, and the chromatin fragments were fractionated according to their solubility in EDTA and 0.15 M NaCl. Chromatin fractions, which were enriched in transcriptionally active genes, were enriched in methylated histones. Moreover, the acetylated species of histones H3 and H4, which are complexed with active genes (Hebbes, T. R., Thorne, A. W., and Crane-Robinson, C. (1988) EMBO J. 7, 1395-1402), were preferentially methylated. The methylation of these histones was not dependent on ongoing transcription. The distribution of histone H3 methyltransferase activity among the various chromatin regions was also studied. This enzyme activity was greatest for the chromatin fragments that were enriched in active/competent genes. However, our results suggest that histone H3 methyltransferase is bound to the nucleosome. The enzyme, which may be localized in the active gene chromatin domains, may ensure that the histones associated with active genes are methylated. Histone methylation, which has a slow turnover rate, may contribute to the maintenance of the transcriptionally active chromatin state.