Distinct modifications of histone tails, such as acetylation, phosphorylation and methylation, regulate nuclear processes by organizing chromatin into higher order structures. Higher order chromatin influences chromosome function and epigenetic gene regulation. SUV39H2 is a 410 amino acid protein that localizes to the centromere and contains one SET domain, one pre-SET domain, one post-SET domain and one chromo domain. Expressed at high levels in adult testis, SUV39H2 functions as a histone methyltransferase that trimethylates the Lys-9 residue of Histone H3, thereby playing an essential role in establishing constitutive heterochromatin at pericentric and telomere regions. SUV39H2 conveys its enzymatic activity via its multiple catalytic domains, which are necessary for both stable binding of SUV39H2 to chromatin and for SUV39H2 methyltransferase activity. Multiple isoforms of SUV39H2 exist due to alternative splicing events.
Function:
Histone methyltransferase that specifically trimethylates 'Lys-9' of histone H3 using monomethylated H3 'Lys-9' as substrate. H3 'Lys-9' trimethylation represents a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional repression by recruiting HP1 (CBX1, CBX3 and/or CBX5) proteins to methylated histones. Mainly functions in heterochromatin regions, thereby playing a central role in the establishment of constitutive heterochromatin at pericentric and telomere regions. H3 'Lys-9' trimethylation is also required to direct DNA methylation at pericentric repeats. SUV39H1 is targeted to histone H3 via its interaction with RB1 and is involved in many processes, such as cell cycle regulation, transcriptional repression and regulation of telomere length. May participate in regulation of higher order chromatin organization during spermatogenesis.
Subcellular Location:
Nucleus. Chromosome > centromere. Associates with centromeric constitutive heterochromatin.
Similarity:
Belongs to the histone-lysine methyltransferase family.
Suvar3-9 subfamily.
Contains 1 chromo domain.
Contains 1 post-SET domain.
Contains 1 pre-SET domain.
Contains 1 SET domain.
SWISS:
Q9H5I1
Gene ID:
79723
Database links:
Entrez Gene: 79723 Human
Entrez Gene: 536936 Cow
Entrez Gene: 64707 Mouse
Entrez Gene: 664651 Pig
Entrez Gene: 364785 Rat
Omim: 606503 Human
SwissProt: Q32PH7 Cow
SwissProt: Q9H5I1 Human
SwissProt: Q9EQQ0 Mouse
Unigene: 554883 Human
Unigene: 128273 Mouse
Unigene: 23483 Mouse
Unigene: 154750 Rat
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