scholarly journals How do transcription factors select specific binding sites in the genome?

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1118-1120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongping Pan ◽  
Chung-Jung Tsai ◽  
Buyong Ma ◽  
Ruth Nussinov
eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian A Steiner ◽  
Steven Henikoff

Centromeres vary greatly in size and sequence composition, ranging from ‘point’ centromeres with a single cenH3-containing nucleosome to ‘regional’ centromeres embedded in tandemly repeated sequences to holocentromeres that extend along the length of entire chromosomes. Point centromeres are defined by sequence, whereas regional and holocentromeres are epigenetically defined by the location of cenH3-containing nucleosomes. In this study, we show that Caenorhabditis elegans holocentromeres are organized as dispersed but discretely localized point centromeres, each forming a single cenH3-containing nucleosome. These centromeric sites co-localize with kinetochore components, and their occupancy is dependent on the cenH3 loading machinery. These sites coincide with non-specific binding sites for multiple transcription factors (‘HOT’ sites), which become occupied when cenH3 is lost. Our results show that the point centromere is the basic unit of holocentric organization in support of the classical polycentric model for holocentromeres, and provide a mechanistic basis for understanding how centromeric chromatin might be maintained.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (17) ◽  
pp. 9069-9086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filippo M Cernilogar ◽  
Stefan Hasenöder ◽  
Zeyang Wang ◽  
Katharina Scheibner ◽  
Ingo Burtscher ◽  
...  

Abstract Pioneer transcription factors (PTF) can recognize their binding sites on nucleosomal DNA and trigger chromatin opening for recruitment of other non-pioneer transcription factors. However, critical properties of PTFs are still poorly understood, such as how these transcription factors selectively recognize cell type-specific binding sites and under which conditions they can initiate chromatin remodelling. Here we show that early endoderm binding sites of the paradigm PTF Foxa2 are epigenetically primed by low levels of active chromatin modifications in embryonic stem cells (ESC). Priming of these binding sites is supported by preferential recruitment of Foxa2 to endoderm binding sites compared to lineage-inappropriate binding sites, when ectopically expressed in ESCs. We further show that binding of Foxa2 is required for chromatin opening during endoderm differentiation. However, increased chromatin accessibility was only detected on binding sites which are synergistically bound with other endoderm transcription factors. Thus, our data suggest that binding site selection of PTFs is directed by the chromatin environment and that chromatin opening requires collaboration of PTFs with additional transcription factors.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filippo M. Cernilogar ◽  
Stefan Hasenöder ◽  
Zeyang Wang ◽  
Katharina Scheibner ◽  
Ingo Burtscher ◽  
...  

AbstractPioneer transcription factors (PTF) can recognize their binding sites on nucleosomal DNA and trigger chromatin opening for recruitment of other non-pioneer transcription factors. However, critical properties of PTFs are still poorly understood, such as how these transcription factors selectively recognize cell type-specific binding sites and under which conditions can they can initiate chromatin remodelling. Here we show that early endoderm binding sites of the paradigm PTF Foxa2 are epigenetically primed by low levels of active chromatin modifications in embryonic stem cells (ESC). Priming of these binding sites is supported by preferential recruitment of Foxa2 to endoderm binding sites compared to lineage-inappropriate binding sites, when ectopically expressed in ESCs. We further show that binding of Foxa2 is required for chromatin opening during endoderm differentiation. However, increased chromatin accessibility was only detected on binding sites which are synergistically bound with other endoderm transcription factors. Thus, our data suggest that binding site selection of PTFs is directed by the chromatin environment and that chromatin opening requires collaboration of PTFs with additional transcription factors.


1962 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 959-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Cohen

Specific binding sites for potassium, which may be components of the carriers for active transport for K in Chlorella, were characterized by their capacity to bind rubidium. A dense suspension was allowed to take up Rb86 from a low concentration of Rb86 and a high concentration of ions which saturate non-specific sites. The amount bound was derived from the increase in the external concentration of Rb86 following addition of excess potassium. The sites were heterogeneous. The average affinity of Rb and various other ions for the sites was determined by plotting the degree of displacement of Rb86 against log molar concentration of the individual ions. Interpolation gave the concentration for 50 per cent displacement of Rb, which is inversely related to affinity. The order of affinity was not changed when the cells were frozen, or boiled either in water or in 70 per cent ethanol. The affinity is maximal for ions with a crystalline radius of 1.3 to 1.5 A and a high polarizability, and is not related to the hydrated radius or valency. It is suggested that binding groups in a site are rigidly arranged, the irregular space between them being 2.6 to 3.0 A across, so that affinity is high for ions of this diameter and high polarizability.


1968 ◽  
Vol 46 (12) ◽  
pp. 1443-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. C. Choi ◽  
E. R. M. Kay

The uptake of protein by cells of the Ehrlich–Lettré ascites carcinoma was characterized kinetically by using hemoglobin as a model protein. An attempt was made to show that the process is not an artefact due to nonspecific adsorption of protein to the cell membrane. The kinetics of the uptake process suggested that an interaction exists between the exogenous protein and specific binding sites on the membrane. Acetylation of hemoglobin enhanced the rate of uptake of this protein. Treatment of cells with neuraminidase, phospholipase A, and Pronase resulted in an inhibition of protein uptake. The experimental evidence for the uptake of hemoglobin was supported by evidence that L-serine-U-14C-labelled hemoglobin is transported into the cytoplasm and utilized subsequently, resulting in labelling of the nucleic acid nucleotides.


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