The scaffold protein SIN3 aids the assembly of distinct complexes containing histone deacetylases (HDACs). These complexes modulate gene expression via chromatin modifications, but their specific functions during development are unclear. Here, Francesca Palladino, Cecile Bedet, Valérie Robert and colleagues use CRISPR/Cas9 to produce a full knockout of sin-3, the Caenorhabditis elegans SIN3 homologue. They show that lack of SIN-3 expression results in maternal effect sterility and reduced proliferation of germ cell progenitors. These effects do not seem to be due to specific disruption of genes involved in oogenesis. Instead, the authors find that a significant proportion of upregulated genes in the sin-3 mutant worms are on the X chromosome, and single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridisation shows that these mutants exhibit premature X transcript expression during oogenesis. This suggests that SIN-3 plays a role in X chromosome silencing. Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry experiments reveal the presence of at least two distinct SIN-3 complexes in worms that contain different HDACs. Depletion of different subunits from the two complexes has varying effects on the germline, suggesting that these complexes contribute to fertility in different ways. Overall, this work identifies a crucial role for SIN-3 in oogenesis and begins to untangle the regulatory functions of distinct SIN-3 complexes.
X marks the spot for SIN-3’s role in germline gene expression Free
X marks the spot for SIN-3’s role in germline gene expression. Development 1 November 2023; 150 (21): e150_e2101. doi:
Download citation file:
Advertisement
Cited by
The Company of Biologists Workshops

For the last 15 years, our publisher, The Company of Biologists, has provided an apt environment to inspire biology and support biologists through our Workshops series. Read about the evolution of the Workshop series and revisit JEB's experience with hosting the first Global South Workshop.
Call for papers – Lifelong Development: the Maintenance, Regeneration and Plasticity of Tissues

Development invites you to submit your latest research to our upcoming special issue – Lifelong Development: the Maintenance, Regeneration and Plasticity of Tissues. This issue will be coordinated by Guest Editors Meritxell Huch (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Germany) and Mansi Srivastava (Harvard University and Museum of Comparative Zoology, USA), working alongside our team of academic Editors. Submit your articles by 30 May 2025.
Meet our 2025 Pathway to Independence (PI) fellows

We are delighted to announce our third cohort of PI fellows - researchers whom we will be supporting as they transition from postdoc to Principal Investigator. Read about the eight talented fellows chosen, whom we're excited to be working with as they navigate the job market.
In preprints
Did you know that Development publishes perspectives on recent preprints? These articles help our readers navigate the ever-growing preprint literature. Together with our preprint highlights service, preLights, these perspectives help our readers navigate the ever-growing preprint literature. We welcome proposals for ‘In preprints’ articles, so please do get in touch if you’d like to contribute.
the Node: Have your say

Our community site, the Node, is conducting a user survey about the content and the design of the site. Help us shape the Node's future and thank you for being a part of the Node over the last 15 years.