H2A.Z-mediated localization of genes at the nuclear periphery confers epigenetic memory of previous transcriptional state

Many genes are recruited to the nuclear periphery upon transcriptional activation. The mechanism and functional significance of this recruitment is unclear. We find that recruitment of the yeast INO1 and GAL1 genes to the nuclear periphery is rapid and independent of transcription. Surprisingly, the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS biology 2007-04, Vol.5 (4), p.e81-e81
Main Authors: Brickner, Donna Garvey, Cajigas, Ivelisse, Fondufe-Mittendorf, Yvonne, Ahmed, Sara, Lee, Pei-Chih, Widom, Jonathan, Brickner, Jason H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Base Sequence
Brain
Cell Biology
Cell Nucleus - genetics
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
DNA Primers
Epigenesis, Genetic
Epigenetic inheritance
Epigenetics
Eukaryotes
Experiments
Genes
Genetic transcription
Genetics and Genomics
Histones - physiology
Localization of functions
Molecular Biology
Recruitment
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA polymerase
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - genetics
Transcription, Genetic
Yeast
Yeast and Fungi
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Summary:Many genes are recruited to the nuclear periphery upon transcriptional activation. The mechanism and functional significance of this recruitment is unclear. We find that recruitment of the yeast INO1 and GAL1 genes to the nuclear periphery is rapid and independent of transcription. Surprisingly, these genes remain at the periphery for generations after they are repressed. Localization at the nuclear periphery serves as a form of memory of recent transcriptional activation, promoting reactivation. Previously expressed GAL1 at the nuclear periphery is activated much more rapidly than long-term repressed GAL1 in the nucleoplasm, even after six generations of repression. Localization of INO1 at the nuclear periphery is necessary and sufficient to promote more rapid activation. This form of transcriptional memory is chromatin based; the histone variant H2A.Z is incorporated into nucleosomes within the recently repressed INO1 promoter and is specifically required for rapid reactivation of both INO1 and GAL1. Furthermore, H2A.Z is required to retain INO1 at the nuclear periphery after repression. Therefore, H2A.Z-mediated localization of recently repressed genes at the nuclear periphery represents an epigenetic state that confers memory of transcriptional activation and promotes reactivation.
ISSN:1545-7885
1544-9173
1545-7885
DOI:10.1371/journal.pbio.0050081