JASPer controls interphase histone H3S10 phosphorylation by chromosomal kinase JIL-1 in Drosophila

In flies, the chromosomal kinase JIL-1 is responsible for most interphase histone H3S10 phosphorylation and has been proposed to protect active chromatin from acquiring heterochromatic marks, such as dimethylated histone H3K9 (H3K9me2) and HP1. Here, we show that JIL-1’s targeting to chromatin depends on a PWWP domain-containing protein JASPer (JIL-1 Anchoring and Stabilizing Protein). JASPer-JIL-1 (JJ)-complex is the major form of kinase in vivo and is targeted to active genes and telomeric transposons via binding of the PWWP domain of JASPer to H3K36me3 nucleosomes, to modulate transcriptional output. JIL-1 and JJ-complex depletion in cycling cells lead to small changes in H3K9me2 distribution at active genes and telomeric transposons. Finally, we identify interactors of the endogenous JJ-complex and propose that JIL-1 not only prevents heterochromatin formation but also coordinates chromatin-based regulation in the transcribed part of the genome. The chromosomal kinase JIL-1 is responsible for interphase histone H3S10 phosphorylation and has been proposed to protect active chromatin from heterochromatinisation. Here, the authors show that JIL-1 is stabilized and anchored to active genes and telomeric transposons by JASPer, which binds to H3K36me3 nucleosomes via its PWWP domain.