Suv39h1 is a histone methyltransferase that methylates H3K9 residues in heterochromatic regions of the genome. An approach using semisynthetic chromatin reveals a mechanism for heterochromatin spreading in which H3K9 trimethylation anchors and activates Suv39h1 for modification of proximal lysines.
- Manuel M Müller
- Beat Fierz
- Tom W Muir