{
  "abstract": "Chromatin accessibility varies widely across distinct genomic regions in eukaryotes, yet the mechanisms governing these differential patterns remain poorly understood. Here, we identify a subfamily of functionally redundant J-domain proteins (JDPs) that assemble into a protein complex with PICKLE (PKL), an evolutionarily conserved CHD3-type chromatin remodeler, in Arabidopsis thaliana. JDPs are required not only for maintaining PKL protein stability but also for stimulating its nucleosome remodeling and ATPase activities. A previously uncharacterized histone-binding domain (HBD) within JDPs specifically recognizes the N-terminal tail of histone H3 when the H3K4me3 modification is absent. This interaction enhances PKL-mediated nucleosome sliding and ATPase activities in vitro, and promotes PKL-dependent chromatin compaction at H3K4me3-depleted genomic loci in vivo. The PKL-JDP complex drives chromatin compaction to repress developmentally regulated genes, thereby governing key developmental phase transitions, including the embryo-to-seedling transition and flowering. Collectively, these findings uncover a distinct mechanism by which the absence of H3K4me3 is sensed to initiate regional chromatin compaction, repress developmentally regulated genes, and facilitate key developmental transitions.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 16,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "B.-B. Guan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Z. Yan"
    },
    {
      "name": "P. Du"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. Sia"
    },
    {
      "name": "D.-Y. Yuan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y.-X. Luo"
    },
    {
      "name": "J.-X. Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "X.-M. Su"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y.-N. Su"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Guo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Z.-Z. Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "X.-Y. Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Z. Chen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "X.-J. He"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e8w4byet3y8ka.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.14.751395",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.14.751395v1.full",
  "id": "e8w4byet3y8ka",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.14.751395v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "plant biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213404125",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.14.751395v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-14",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e8w4byet3y8ka.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:41Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.14.751395",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.14.751395v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:plant biology",
      "subfield": "plant-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "J-domain proteins stimulate PKL-mediated chromatin compaction at H3K4-hypomethylated genomic loci",
  "title_text": "J-domain proteins stimulate PKL-mediated chromatin compaction at H3K4-hypomethylated genomic loci",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e8w4byet3y8ka",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}