Cited by 543Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model OrganismsEpigenetics and DNA MethylationGenomics and Chromatin Dynamics

Members of the H3K4 trimethylation complex regulate lifespan in a germline-dependent manner in C. elegans

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Greer, Eric L., Maures, Travis J., Hauswirth, Anna G., Green, Erin M., Leeman, Dena S., Maro, Géraldine S., Han, Shuo, Banko, Max R. +2 more·2010·Nature

Abstract

The plasticity of ageing suggests that longevity may be controlled epigenetically by specific alterations in chromatin state. The link between chromatin and ageing has mostly focused on histone deacetylation by the Sir2 family, but less is known about the role of other histone modifications in longevity. Histone methylation has a crucial role in development and in maintaining stem cell pluripotency in mammals. Regulators of histone methylation have been associated with ageing in worms and flies, but characterization of their role and mechanism of action has been limited. Here we identify the ASH-2 trithorax complex, which trimethylates histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4), as a regulator of lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans in a directed RNA interference (RNAi) screen in fertile worms. Deficiencies in members of the ASH-2 complex-ASH-2 itself, WDR-5 and the H3K4 methyltransferase SET-2-extend worm lifespan. Conversely, the H3K4 demethylase RBR-2 is required for normal lifespan, consistent with the idea that an excess of H3K4 trimethylation-a mark associated with active chromatin-is detrimental for longevity. Lifespan extension induced by ASH-2 complex deficiency requires the presence of an intact adult germline and the continuous production of mature eggs. ASH-2 and RBR-2 act in the germline, at least in part, to regulate lifespan and to control a set of genes involved in lifespan determination. These results indicate that the longevity of the soma is regulated by an H3K4 methyltransferase/demethylase complex acting in the C. elegans germline.

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  • Too much H3K4me3 tracks with an aged epigenome.

    “For example, the ASH-2 trithorax complex mediates trimethylation of histone H3 on Lys4 (H3K4me3), and its deletion increases Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan, consistent with excessive H3K4me3 being associated with an aging epigenome172,173.”
  • In C. elegans, knockdown of H3K4 methyltransferase SETD1A/SET-2 increases lifespan.

    “In C. elegans, knockdown of the H3K4 methyltransferase SETD1A/SET-2 increases lifespan (Greer et al., 2010).”

    From The Aging Epigenome (2016) · cites this paper as Greer et al., 2010

  • Knockdown of H3K4me3 demethylase KDM5B/RBR-2 in C. elegans hermaphrodites and Drosophila males shortens lifespan.

    “Consistent with the idea that loss of H3K4me3 is beneficial to longevity, knockdown of the H3K4me3 demethylase KDM5B/RBR-2 in C. elegans hermaphrodites and Drosophila males shortens lifespan (Greer et al., 2010; Li et al., 2010).”

    From The Aging Epigenome (2016) · cites this paper as Greer et al., 2010

  • Knockdown of H3K4me3 enzymes can both increase and decrease lifespan depending on enzyme or context.

    “Like the H3K27me3 modifiers, knockdown of the H3K4me3 enzymes has been shown to both increase and decrease lifespan, depending on the specific enzyme or context.”

    From The Aging Epigenome (2016) · cites this paper as Greer et al., 2010

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Authors
Greer, E. L., Maures, T. J., Hauswirth, A. G., Green, E. M., Leeman, D. S., Maro, G. S., Han, S., Banko, M. R., Gozani, O., & Brunet, A.
Affiliations
Stanford University (US)
Corresponding author
Brunet, Anne
Venue
Nature
Published
2010-06-16
Volume
466
Issue
7304
Pages
383-387
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2078003979
Cited by
543
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 38 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 27
FWCI
12.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Maryland Shared Open Access Repository (USMAI Consortium) (submittedVersion)
  • Digital Repository at the University of Maryland (University of Maryland College Park)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5f31ag032837-03)
  • National Institute on Aging (R56AG031198, F31-AG032837, R01-AG31198, AG31198, R01AG031198)
  • National Human Genome Research Institute (T32HG000044)
  • National Cancer Institute (T32CA009302)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
Keywords
H3K4 trimethylation, H3K4 demethylase, lifespan extension, longevity, germline, oogenesis, histone methylation, chromatin, Caenorhabditis elegans, RNAi screen
MeSH terms
Animals, Gene Expression Regulation, Germ Cells, Histones, Longevity, Lysine, Male, Methylation, Nuclear Proteins, Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase, Disorders of Sex Development, Caenorhabditis elegans, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins, Animals, Genetically Modified, RNA Interference, Epigenesis, Genetic, Multiprotein Complexes, Gene Knockdown Techniques, Histone Demethylases, Retinoblastoma-Binding Protein 2

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