The interplay between nucleoid organization and transcription in archaeal genomes

• Published in: Nature reviews. Microbiology 2015-06, Vol.13 (6), p.333-341
• Main Authors: Peeters, Eveline, Driessen, Rosalie P. C., Werner, Finn, Dame, Remus T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/326/26; 631/326/26/2523; 631/326/26/2525; Archaea; Archaea - genetics; Archaea - physiology; Archaeabacteria; Bacteria; Cellular proteins; Chromatin - genetics; Chromatin - physiology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Archaeal - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Archaeal - physiology; Genetic aspects; Genetic regulation; Genetic research; Genome, Archaeal - genetics; Genome, Archaeal - physiology; Genomes; Histones - genetics; Histones - physiology; Infectious Diseases; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Microbiological research; Microbiology; Parasitology; Phylogenetics; progress; Properties; Proteins; RNA polymerase; Transcription factors; Transcription, Genetic - genetics; Transcription, Genetic - physiology; Virology
• ISSN: 1740-1526; 1740-1534
• DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3467

The archaeal genome is organized by either eukaryotic-like histone proteins or bacterial-like architectural proteins. Dame and colleagues discuss the interplay between chromatin proteins and components of the basal and regulatory transcription machinery, and describe how these factors cooperate in nucleoid structuring and gene regulation. The archaeal genome is organized by either eukaryotic-like histone proteins or bacterial-like nucleoid-associated proteins. Recent studies have revealed novel insights into chromatin dynamics and their effect on gene expression in archaeal model organisms. In this Progress article, we discuss the interplay between chromatin proteins, such as histones and Alba, and components of the basal transcription machinery, as well as between chromatin structure and gene-specific transcription factors in archaea. Such an interplay suggests that chromatin might have a role in regulating gene expression on both a global and a gene-specific level. Moreover, several archaeal transcription factors combine a global gene regulatory role with an architectural role, thus contributing to chromatin organization and compaction, as well as gene expression. We describe the emerging principles underlying how these factors cooperate in nucleoid structuring and gene regulation.