Maternal H3K36 and H3K27 HMTs protect germline development via regulation of the transcription factor LIN-15B.

Maternally synthesized products play critical roles in the development of offspring. A premier example is the H3K36 methyltransferase MES-4, which is essential for germline survival and development in offspring. How maternal MES-4 protects the germline is not well understood, but its role in H3K36 methylation hinted that it may regulate gene expression in primordial germ cells (PGCs).