H4K20me3 methyltransferase SUV420H2 regulates pluripotent embryonic stem cells [ChIP-seq]

Heterochromatin, which is a densely packed chromatin state that is transcriptionally silent, is a critical regulator of gene expression. However, it is unclear how the repressive histone modification, H4K20me3, or the histone methyltransferase, SUV420H2, regulate embryonic stem (ES) cell fate by patterning the epigenetic landscape. Here, we observed a near complete genome-wide loss of H4K20me3 in SUV420H2 depleted ES cells, suggesting that SUV420H enzymes are paramount for establishing global H4K20me3 domains. We also found that SUV0420H2-bound regions are enriched with repetitive DNA elements. Together, these findings describe a novel role for SUV420H2 in regulating the chromatin landscape of ES cells. ChIP-Seq of undifferentiated murine ES cells