RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Drosophila CAF-1 regulates HP1-mediated epigenetic silencing and pericentric heterochromatin stability JF Journal of Cell Science JO J. Cell Sci. FD The Company of Biologists Ltd SP 2853 OP 2861 DO 10.1242/jcs.063610 VO 123 IS 16 A1 Huang, Hai A1 Yu, Zhongsheng A1 Zhang, Shuaiqi A1 Liang, Xuehong A1 Chen, Jianming A1 Li, Changqing A1 Ma, Jun A1 Jiao, Renjie YR 2010 UL http://jcs.biologists.org/content/123/16/2853.abstract AB Chromatin assembly factor 1 (CAF-1) was initially characterized as a histone deliverer in the process of DNA-replication-coupled chromatin assembly in eukaryotic cells. Here, we report that CAF-1 p180, the largest subunit of Drosophila CAF-1, participates in the process of heterochromatin formation and functions to maintain pericentric heterochromatin stability. We provide evidence that Drosophila CAF-1 p180 plays a role in both classes of position effect variegation (PEV) and in the expression of heterochromatic genes. A decrease in the expression of Drosophila CAF-1 p180 leads to a decrease in both H3K9 methylation at pericentric heterochromatin regions and the recruitment of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) to the chromocenter of the polytene chromosomes. The artificial targeting of HP1 to a euchromatin location leads to the enrichment of Drosophila CAF-1 p180 at this ectopic heterochromatin, suggesting the mutual recruitment of HP1 and CAF-1 p180. We also show that the spreading of heterochromatin is compromised in flies that have reduced CAF-1 p180. Furthermore, reduced CAF-1 p180 causes a defect in the dynamics of heterochromatic markers in early Drosophila embryos. Together, these findings suggest that Drosophila CAF-1 p180 is an essential factor in the epigenetic control of heterochromatin formation and/or maintenance.