Chromatin potentiates transcription

Chromatin isolated from the chromosomal locus of the PHO5 gene of yeast in a transcriptionally repressed state was transcribed with 12 pure proteins (80 polypeptides): RNA polymerase II, six general transcription factors, TFIIS, the Pho4 gene activator protein, and the SAGA, SWI/SNF, and Mediator co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2017-02, Vol.114 (7), p.1536-1541
Main Authors: Nagai, Shigeki, Davis, Ralph E., Mattei, Pierre Jean, Eagen, Kyle Patrick, Kornberg, Roger D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological Sciences
Chromatin
Chromosomes
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
Polypeptides
Proteins
Yeast
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Summary:Chromatin isolated from the chromosomal locus of the PHO5 gene of yeast in a transcriptionally repressed state was transcribed with 12 pure proteins (80 polypeptides): RNA polymerase II, six general transcription factors, TFIIS, the Pho4 gene activator protein, and the SAGA, SWI/SNF, and Mediator complexes. Contrary to expectation, a nucleosome occluding the TATA box and transcription start sites did not impede transcription but rather, enhanced it: the level of chromatin transcription was at least sevenfold greater than that of naked DNA, and chromatin gave patterns of transcription start sites closely similar to those occurring in vivo, whereas naked DNA gave many aberrant transcripts. Both histone acetylation and trimethylation of H3K4 (H3K4me3) were important for chromatin transcription. The nucleosome, long known to serve as a general gene repressor, thus also performs an important positive role in transcription.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1620312114