Nucleation and spreading rejuvenate polycomb domains every cell cycle

Abstract

AbstractGene repression by the polycomb pathway is essential for proper development in metazoans. Polycomb domains, characterized by trimethylation of histone H3 (H3K27me3), carry the memory of repression through successive cell divisions, and hence, need to be maintained to counter dilution of parental H3K27me3 with unmodified nascent H3 during replication. However, how locus-specific H3K27me3 is maintained despite replication is unknown. To address this, we defined nucleation sites within each polycomb domain in mouse embryonic stem cells. Next, to track H3K27me3 dynamics in unperturbed cells during replication, we developed CUT&Flow, which maps H3K27me3 domains as a function of the cell cycle stage. Using CUT&Flow, we show that post-replication rejuvenation of polycomb domains occurs by nucleation and spreading, using the same nucleation sites used during de novo domain formation. The timing of nucleation relative to the cell cycle can be explained by a combination of replication timing and H3K27me3 deposition kinetics derived from de novo domain formation. Thus, competition between H3K27me3 deposition and nucleosome turnover drives both de novo domain formation and maintenance during every cell cycle.