Multiple Links between the NuA4 Histone Acetyltransferase Complex and Epigenetic Control of Transcription

• Published in: Molecular cell 2000-06, Vol.5 (6), p.927-937
• Main Authors: Galarneau, Luc, Nourani, Amine, Boudreault, Alexandre A, Zhang, Yan, Héliot, Laurent, Allard, Stéphane, Savard, Julie, Lane, William S, Stillman, David J, Côté, Jacques
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetyltransferases - chemistry; Acetyltransferases - genetics; Acetyltransferases - metabolism; Act1 protein; ACT3 gene; Act3 protein; Actins - chemistry; Actins - genetics; Actins - metabolism; Amino Acid Sequence; Arp4 protein; Chromatin - genetics; Chromatin - metabolism; Ep11 protein; epigenetics; ESA1 gene; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Fungal Proteins - chemistry; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal - genetics; Genes, Essential - genetics; Genes, Fungal - genetics; Histone acetyltransferase; Histone Acetyltransferases; histone H2A; Histones - metabolism; Macromolecular Substances; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation; NuA4 protein; Nuclear Proteins - chemistry; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; nucleosomes; Nucleosomes - genetics; Nucleosomes - metabolism; Protein Binding; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - enzymology; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; Sir3 protein; Transcription, Genetic - genetics
• ISSN: 1097-2765; 1097-4164
• DOI: 10.1016/S1097-2765(00)80258-0

NuA4 is an essential histone H4/H2A acetyltransferase complex that interacts with activators and stimulates transcription in vitro. We have identified three novel NuA4 subunits: Act3/Arp4, an actin-related protein implicated in epigenetic control of transcription, Act1, and Epl1, a protein homologous to Drosophila Enhancer of Polycomb. Act3/Arp4 binds nucleosomes in vitro and is required for NuA4 integrity in vivo. Mutations in ACT3 and acetyltransferase-encoding ESA1 cause gene-specific transcription defects. Accordingly, NuA4 is localized in precise loci within the nucleus and does not overlap with the silent chromatin marker Sir3. These data along with the known epigenetic roles of Act3/Arp4 and homologs of Epl1 and Esa1 strongly support an essential role for chromatin structure modification by NuA4 in transcription regulation in vivo.