DNMT3A Reads and Connects Histone H3K36me2 to DNA methylation [ChIP-seq]

DNA methylation at the 5-position of cytosine (5mC) is a crucial epigenetic mark in regulating biological processes including gene silencing, gene imprinting, and X chromosome inactivation. It has long been questioned how de novo DNA 5mC patterns are established in different genomic regions and whether histone modifications crosstalk to the process. Here, we report a previously uncovered mechanism of histone mark H3K36me2 in recruiting and activating DNMT3A, primarily in the intergenic regions. Our biochemistry studies discovered that H3K36me2 could be specifically bound by DNMT3A PWWP domain and substantially stimulate DNMT3A activity, representing the first example of histone modification in activating DNMT3A activity. Using multiple myeloma model, KMS11, we further found that the genome-wide gain-of-H3K36me2 resulted in global increase of 5mC, primarily in the intergenic regions. Importantly, DNA inhibitor treatment specifically blocked KMS11 growth demonstrating the functional importance of this regulatory pathway. Examination of H3K36me2 in 2 cell types.