chromo domain protein Chd1p from budding yeast is an ATP-dependent chromatin-modifying factor

• Published in: The EMBO journal 2000-05, Vol.19 (10), p.2323-2331
• Main Authors: Tran, H.G, Steger, D.J, Iyer, V.R, Johnson, A.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adenosine triphosphate; Adenosine Triphosphate - metabolism; adenosinetriphosphatase; binding proteins; CDH1 protein; CDH3 protein; CDH4 protein; chd1 gene; Chd1p protein; chromatin; Chromatin - genetics; Chromatin - metabolism; chromatin-modifying factor; chromo domain; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; enzyme activity; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - metabolism; gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; gene interaction; genes; genomic array; messenger RNA; nucleosome remodeling; nucleosomes; Proteins; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; swi/snf genes; SWI/SNF protein; synthetic lethality; Yeasts
• ISSN: 0261-4189; 1460-2075
• DOI: 10.1093/emboj/19.10.2323

CHD proteins are members of the chromo domain family, a class of proteins involved in transcription, DNA degradation and chromatin structure. In higher eukaryotes, there are two distinct subfamilies of CHD proteins: CHD1 and CHD3/4. Analyses carried out in vitro indicate that the CHD3/4 proteins may regulate transcription via alteration of chromatin structure. However, little is known about the role of CHD proteins in vivo , particularly the CHD1 subfamily. To understand better the cellular function of CHD proteins, we initiated a study on the Chd1p protein from budding yeast. Using genomic DNA arrays, we identified genes whose expression is affected by the absence of Chd1p. A synthetic‐lethal screen uncovered genetic interactions between SWI/SNF genes and CHD1 . Biochemical experiments using Chd1p purified from yeast showed that it reconfigures the structure of nucleosome core particles in a manner distinct from the SWI–SNF complex. Taken together, these results suggest that Chd1p functions as a nucleosome remodeling factor, and that Chd1p may share overlapping roles with the SWI–SNF complex to regulate transcription.