XCT is a novel regulator of chromatin functionally conserved across eukaryotes

XCT was originally identified due to the short circadian period observed in plants mutant for this gene. Proteins with homology to XCT are found across eukaryotes, but their molecular function is unknown. We have recently demonstrated that in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the XCT ortholog Xap5 is a chromatin-associated protein that acts in a similar manner as the histone variant H2A.Z to suppress aberrant gene expression. Here, we demonstrate that although XCT and H2A.Z act in similar pathways to control plant development, XCT's role in the circadian clock is independent of H2A.Z. Overall design: Analysis of DNA methylation and gene expression in various xct mutants.