Rixosomal RNA degradation contributes to silencing of Polycomb target genes

Abstract

Polycomb Repressive Complexes 1 and 2 (PRC1 and PRC2) are histone-modifying and -binding complexes that mediate the formation of facultative heterochromatin and are required for silencing of developmental genes and maintenance of cell fate1-3. Multiple pathways of RNA decay work together to establish and maintain heterochromatin in fission yeast, including a recently identified role for a conserved RNA degradation complex called the rixosome or RIX1 complex4,5. Whether RNA degradation also plays a role in the stability of mammalian heterochromatin remains unknown. Here we show that the rixosome contributes to silencing of many Polycomb targets in human cells. The rixosome associates with human PRC complexes and is enriched at promoters of Polycomb target genes. Importantly, depletion of either the rixosome or Polycomb results in accumulation of paused and elongating RNA polymerase at Polycomb-target genes. We identify point mutations in the RING1B subunit of PRC1 that disrupt the interaction between PRC1 and the rixosome and result in diminished silencing, suggesting that direct recruitment of the rixosome to chromatin is required for silencing. Finally, we show that the RNA endonuclease and kinase activities of the rixosome and the downstream XRN2 exoribonuclease, which degrades RNAs with 5’ mono-phosphate groups generated by the rixosome, are required for silencing. Our findings suggest that rixosome-mediated degradation of nascent RNA is conserved from fission yeast to human, although in human cells rixosomal RNA degradation activity is primarily associated with facultative rather than constitutive heterochromatin.