Polycomb protein SCML2 associates with USP7 and counteracts histone H2A ubiquitination in the XY chromatin during male meiosis

Chromatin-modifying enzymes regulate the chromatin state during development and disease. Polycomb group proteins control the expression of homeotic genes in developmental patterning via post-translational histone modification. This study focused on the role of the testis-specific polycomb protein, SCML2. SCML2 localizes to the XY chromatin during male meiosis and recruits a deubiquitinase, USP7, attenuating H2A ubiquitination. These functional studies of SCML2 uncovered a new molecular pathway regulating H2A ubiquitination in modulation of sex chromosome silencing during male meiosis.

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