DNMT3B PWWP mutations cause hypermethylation of heterochromatin

The correct establishment of DNA methylation patterns is vital for mammalian development and is achieved largely by thede novoDNA methyltransferases DNMT3A and DNMT3B. Mutations in DNMT3B can cause immunodeficiency-centromeric instability-facial anomalies type 1 (ICF1) syndrome which is characterised by hypomethylated heterochromatin. However, in the genome, DNMT3B primarily localises to actively transcribing gene bodies through the interaction of its PWWP domain with the histone modification H3K36me3 and it is unclear how it is recruited to heterochromatin. Here we show that in DNMT3B knockout cells, loss of DNA methylation predominantly occurs in heterochromatic domains marked by H3K9me3. We also find that PWWP domain mutations which disrupt DNMT3B’s interaction with H3K36me3 result in striking increases of DNA methylation in H3K9me3-marked heterochromatin. Gains of methylation are also observed when the PWWP domain of DNMT3B is deleted. In contrast, we find that the ICF1 syndrome-causing PWWP mutation, S270P, does not result in hypermethylation of heterochromatin and destabilises the protein. We also show that removal of the N-terminus region of DNMT3B affects its recruitment to chromatin and ability to methylate H3K9me3 marked regions. Our results suggest that DNMT3B is recruited to H3K9me3 marked heterochromatin in a PWWP-independent manner and that this recruitment is facilitated by the protein’s N-terminus. More generally, we suggest that DNMT3B plays a role in DNA methylation homeostasis at heterochromatin, a process which is disrupted in ICF syndrome, cancer and aging.