scholarly journals Gal4p-Mediated Chromatin Remodeling Depends on Binding Site Position in Nucleosomes but Does Not Require DNA Replication

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1201-1212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai Xu ◽  
Robert T. Simpson ◽  
Michael P. Kladde
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Chromatin Remodeling ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Chromatin Modification ◽  
Factor Binding ◽  
Affect Factor ◽  
Nucleosome Binding

ABSTRACT Biochemical studies have demonstrated decreased binding of various proteins to DNA in nucleosome cores as their cognate sites are moved from the edge of the nucleosome to the pseudodyad (center). However, to date no study has addressed whether this structural characteristic of nucleosomes modulates the function of a transcription factor in living cells, where processes of DNA replication and chromatin modification or remodeling could significantly affect factor binding. Using a sensitive, high-resolution methyltransferase assay, we have monitored the ability of Gal4p in vivo to interact with a nucleosome at positions that are known to be inaccessible in nucleosome cores in vitro. Gal4p efficiently bound a single cognate site (UASG) centered at 41 bp from the edge of a positioned nucleosome, perturbing chromatin structure and inducing transcription. DNA binding and chromatin perturbation accompanying this interaction also occurred in the presence of hydroxyurea, indicating that DNA replication is not necessary for Gal4p-mediated nucleosome disruption. These data extend previous studies, which demonstrated DNA replication-independent chromatin remodeling, by showing that a single dimer of Gal4p, without the benefit of cooperative interactions that occur at complex wild-type promoters, is competent for invasion of a preestablished nucleosome. When the UASG was localized at the nucleosomal pseudodyad, relative occupancy by Gal4p, nucleosome disruption, and transcriptional activation were substantially compromised. Therefore, despite the increased nucleosome binding capability of Gal4p in cells, the precise translational position of a factor binding site in one nucleosome in an array can affect the ability of a transcriptional regulator to overcome the repressive influence of chromatin.

scholarly journals Systematic analysis of low-affinity transcription factor binding site clusters in vitro and in vivo establishes their functional relevance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Shahein ◽  
Maria L&oacutepez-Malo ◽  
Ivan Istomin ◽  
Evan J. Olson ◽  
Shiyu Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Transcription Factor Binding ◽  
Affinity Binding ◽  
Factor Binding ◽  
Functional Relevance

Transcription factor binding to a single binding site and its functional consequence in a promoter context are beginning to be relatively well understood. However, binding to clusters of sites has yet to be characterized in depth, and the functional relevance of binding site clusters remains uncertain.We employed a high-throughput biochemical method to characterize transcription factor binding to clusters varying across a range of affinities and configurations. We found that transcription factors can bind concurrently to overlapping sites, challenging the notion of binding exclusivity. Further-more, compared to an individual high-affinity binding site, small clusters with binding sites an order of magnitude lower in affinity give rise to higher mean occupancies at physiologically-relevant transcription factor concentrations in vitro. To assess whether the observed in vitro occupancies translate to transcriptional activation in vivo, we tested low-affinity binding site clusters by inserting them into a synthetic minimal CYC1 and the native PHO5 S. cerevisiae promoter. In the minCYC1 promoter, clusters of low-affinity binding sites can generate transcriptional output comparable to a promoter containing three consensus binding sites. In the PHO5 promoter, replacing the native Pho4 binding sites with clusters of low-affinity binding sites recovered activation of these promoters as well. This systematic characterization demonstrates that clusters of low-affinity binding sites achieve substantial occupancies, and that this occupancy can drive expression in eukaryotic promoters

scholarly journals A nucleosome-positioning sequence is required for GCN4 to activate transcription in the absence of a TATA element.

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 4256-4265 ◽  
Author(s):  
C J Brandl ◽  
K Struhl
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Nucleosome Positioning ◽  
Alternative Mechanism ◽  
Tata Element ◽  
Binding Factor ◽  
Positioning Analysis ◽  
Binding Sequence

In the gal-his3 hybrid promoter his3-GG1, the yeast upstream activator protein GCN4 stimulates transcription when bound at the position normally occupied by the TATA element. This TATA-independent activation by GCN4 requires two additional elements in the gal enhancer region that are distinct from those involved in normal galactose induction. Both additional elements appear to be functionally distinct from a classical TATA element because they cannot be replaced by the TFIID-binding sequence TATAAA. One of these elements, termed Q, is essential for GCN4-activated transcription and contains the sequence GTCAC CCG, which overlaps (but is distinct from) a GAL4 binding site. Surprisingly, relatively small increases in the distance between Q and the GCN4 binding site significantly reduce the level of transcription. The Q element specifically interacts with a yeast protein (Q-binding protein [QBP]) that may be equivalent to Y, a protein that binds at a sequence that forms a constraint to nucleosome positioning. Analysis of various deletion mutants indicates that the sequence requirements for binding by QBP in vitro are indistinguishable from those necessary for Q activity in vivo, strongly suggesting that QBP is required for the function of this TATA-independent promoter. These results support the view that transcriptional activation can occur by an alternative mechanism in which the TATA-binding factor TFIID either is not required or is not directly bound to DNA. In addition, they suggest a potential role of nucleosome positioning for the activity of a promoter.

scholarly journals Regulation of the DNA-binding and transcriptional activities of Xenopus laevis NFI-X by a novel C-terminal domain.

1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 5552-5562 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Roulet ◽  
M T Armentero ◽  
G Krey ◽  
B Corthésy ◽  
C Dreyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
New Members ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Dna Binding Activity

The nuclear factor I (NFI) family consists of sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins that activate both transcription and adenovirus DNA replication. We have characterized three new members of the NFI family that belong to the Xenopus laevis NFI-X subtype and differ in their C-termini. We show that these polypeptides can activate transcription in HeLa and Drosophila Schneider line 2 cells, using an activation domain that is subdivided into adjacent variable and subtype-specific domains each having independent activation properties in chimeric proteins. Together, these two domains constitute the full NFI-X transactivation potential. In addition, we find that the X. laevis NFI-X proteins are capable of activating adenovirus DNA replication through their conserved N-terminal DNA-binding domains. Surprisingly, their in vitro DNA-binding activities are specifically inhibited by a novel repressor domain contained within the C-terminal part, while the dimerization and replication functions per se are not affected. However, inhibition of DNA-binding activity in vitro is relieved within the cell, as transcriptional activation occurs irrespective of the presence of the repressor domain. Moreover, the region comprising the repressor domain participates in transactivation. Mechanisms that may allow the relief of DNA-binding inhibition in vivo and trigger transcriptional activation are discussed.

A nucleosome-positioning sequence is required for GCN4 to activate transcription in the absence of a TATA element

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 4256-4265
Author(s):  
C J Brandl ◽  
K Struhl
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Nucleosome Positioning ◽  
Alternative Mechanism ◽  
Tata Element ◽  
Binding Factor ◽  
Positioning Analysis ◽  
Binding Sequence

In the gal-his3 hybrid promoter his3-GG1, the yeast upstream activator protein GCN4 stimulates transcription when bound at the position normally occupied by the TATA element. This TATA-independent activation by GCN4 requires two additional elements in the gal enhancer region that are distinct from those involved in normal galactose induction. Both additional elements appear to be functionally distinct from a classical TATA element because they cannot be replaced by the TFIID-binding sequence TATAAA. One of these elements, termed Q, is essential for GCN4-activated transcription and contains the sequence GTCAC CCG, which overlaps (but is distinct from) a GAL4 binding site. Surprisingly, relatively small increases in the distance between Q and the GCN4 binding site significantly reduce the level of transcription. The Q element specifically interacts with a yeast protein (Q-binding protein [QBP]) that may be equivalent to Y, a protein that binds at a sequence that forms a constraint to nucleosome positioning. Analysis of various deletion mutants indicates that the sequence requirements for binding by QBP in vitro are indistinguishable from those necessary for Q activity in vivo, strongly suggesting that QBP is required for the function of this TATA-independent promoter. These results support the view that transcriptional activation can occur by an alternative mechanism in which the TATA-binding factor TFIID either is not required or is not directly bound to DNA. In addition, they suggest a potential role of nucleosome positioning for the activity of a promoter.

scholarly journals Artificially Recruited TATA-Binding Protein Fails To Remodel Chromatin and Does Not Activate Three Promoters That Require Chromatin Remodeling

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (16) ◽  
pp. 5847-5857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Ryan ◽  
Grace A. Stafford ◽  
Liuning Yu ◽  
Randall H. Morse
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Reporter Gene ◽  
Chromatin Remodeling ◽  
Chromatin Structure ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Tata Binding Protein ◽  
Activation Domains

ABSTRACT Transcriptional activators are believed to work in part by recruiting general transcription factors, such as TATA-binding protein (TBP) and the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme. Activation domains also contribute to remodeling of chromatin in vivo. To determine whether these two activities represent distinct functions of activation domains, we have examined transcriptional activation and chromatin remodeling accompanying artificial recruitment of TBP in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). We measured transcription of reporter genes with defined chromatin structure by artificial recruitment of TBP and found that a reporter gene whose TATA element was relatively accessible could be activated by artificially recruited TBP, whereas two promoters, GAL10 and CHA1, that have accessible activator binding sites, but nucleosomal TATA elements, could not. A third reporter gene containing theHIS4 promoter could be activated by GAL4-TBP only when a RAP1 binding site was present, although RAP1 alone could not activate the reporter, suggesting that RAP1 was needed to open the chromatin structure to allow activation. Consistent with this interpretation, artificially recruited TBP was unable to perturb nucleosome positioning via a nucleosomal binding site, in contrast to a true activator such as GAL4, or to perturb the TATA-containing nucleosome at theCHA1 promoter. Finally, we show that activation of theGAL10 promoter by GAL4, which requires chromatin remodeling, can occur even in swi gcn5 yeast, implying that remodeling pathways independent of GCN5, the SWI-SNF complex, and TFIID can operate during transcriptional activation in vivo.

scholarly journals Direct Physical and Functional Interaction of the NuA4 Complex Components Yaf9p and Swc4p

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 976-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia B. Bittner ◽  
Deniz T. Zeisig ◽  
Bernd B. Zeisig ◽  
Robert K. Slany
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Dna Methyltransferase ◽  
Chromatin Modification ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Yeast Homolog ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Degree Of Similarity

ABSTRACT Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yaf9p and the mammalian leukemia-associated protein ENL share a high degree of similarity. To investigate the biological function of Yaf9p, this protein was used to search for interacting proteins in a two-hybrid system. Here, we demonstrate that Yaf9p binds directly to Swc4p, the yeast homolog of the mammalian DNA-methyltransferase-associated protein 1. Yaf9p and Swc4p associate through C-terminal domains, and both proteins coprecipitate in vitro in pull-down experiments and in vivo by immunoprecipitation. In living cells, Swc4p is present in a megadalton protein complex that shows a fractionation behavior in gel filtration similar to that of Esa1p, the histone acetyltransferase of the NuA4 complex. Recruitment of Yaf9p to DNA leads to promoter-specific transcriptional activation that can be inhibited by dominant negative Swc4p lacking the Yaf9p binding domain. Interference with Swc4p function also increases sensitivity to the microtubule toxin benomyl, a trait that corresponds to the known phenotype of a yaf9 − knockout strain. In summary, the results suggest that Yaf9p and Swc4p form a protein pair that has a role in chromatin modification with possible implications also for the function of their mammalian counterparts.

scholarly journals CHD8 Associates with Human Staf and Contributes to Efficient U6 RNA Polymerase III Transcription

2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (24) ◽  
pp. 8729-8738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Chi Yuan ◽  
Xinyang Zhao ◽  
Laurence Florens ◽  
Selene K. Swanson ◽  
Michael P. Washburn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Chromatin Remodeling ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
Chromatin Modification ◽  
Small Nuclear Rna ◽  
Polymerase Iii ◽  
Chromatin Template ◽  
Pol Iii

ABSTRACT Chromatin remodeling and histone modification are essential for eukaryotic transcription regulation, but little is known about chromatin-modifying activities acting on RNA polymerase III (Pol III)-transcribed genes. The human U6 small nuclear RNA promoter, located 5′ of the transcription start site, consists of a core region directing basal transcription and an activating region that recruits the transcription factors Oct-1 and Staf (ZNF143). Oct-1 activates transcription in part by helping recruit core binding factors, but nothing is known about the mechanisms of transcription activation by Staf. We show that Staf activates U6 transcription from a preassembled chromatin template in vitro and associates with several proteins linked to chromatin modification, among them chromodomain-helicase-DNA binding protein 8 (CHD8). CHD8 binds to histone H3 di- and trimethylated on lysine 4. It resides on the human U6 promoter as well as the mRNA IRF3 promoter in vivo and contributes to efficient transcription from both these promoters. Thus, Pol III transcription from type 3 promoters uses some of the same factors used for chromatin remodeling at Pol II promoters.

Chromatin potentiation of the hsp70 promoter is linked to GAGA-factor recruitment

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe T Georgel
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Chromatin Remodeling ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Gaga Factor ◽  
Hsp70 Promoter ◽  
Nucleosome Remodeling ◽  
Functional Sites ◽  
Factor Binding

The events leading to transcription initiation of the Drosophila melanogaster heat-shock protein (hsp)70 gene have been demonstrated to be directly connected with nucleosome remodeling factor and GAGA-dependent chromatin remodeling on its promoter region. To investigate the relative importance of the multiple GAGA-factor binding sites in the process of chromatin remodeling and their effect on DNA conformation, the position of nucleosomes over the proximal region of the promoter was mapped. No real-positioned nucleosome was detected. By matching the relative position of the GAGA-factor binding sites with the distribution of nucleosomes over the hsp70 promoter, the GAGA site 2 appeared to be the most accessible, i.e., located close to a nucleosomal edge or within the linker DNA. This result, combined with previous observations, suggest a link between increased GAGA-factor accessibility and efficiency of transcription initiation. The effect of GAGA-binding-site mutations, both individually and in combination, on DNA structure and nucleosome remodeling was assessed using free DNA and fly embryo extract chromatin templates assembled in vitro. Results indicated that both the number of functional sites and their positions within the chromatin were important determinants for nucleosome-remodeling efficiency. Ultimately, the degree of accessibility of the GAGA factor to its cognate binding site(s) appears to be proportional to chromatin-remodeling competency of the hsp70 promoter.Key words: chromatin, remodeling, nucleosome, hsp70, GAGA, Drosophila.

scholarly journals BZLF1 interacts with chromatin remodelers promoting escape from latent infections with EBV

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. e201800108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa Schaeffner ◽  
Paulina Mrozek-Gorska ◽  
Alexander Buschle ◽  
Anne Woellmer ◽  
Takanobu Tagawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chromatin Remodeling ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Nucleosome Occupancy ◽  
Dna Methyltransferases ◽  
Viral Transcription ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Viral Dna ◽  
Accessible Chromatin

A hallmark of EBV infections is its latent phase, when all viral lytic genes are repressed. Repression results from a high nucleosome occupancy and epigenetic silencing by cellular factors such as the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and DNA methyltransferases that, respectively, introduce repressive histone marks and DNA methylation. The viral transcription factor BZLF1 acts as a molecular switch to induce transition from the latent to the lytic or productive phase of EBV’s life cycle. It is unknown how BZLF1 can bind to the epigenetically silenced viral DNA and whether it directly reactivates the viral genome through chromatin remodeling. We addressed these fundamental questions and found that BZLF1 binds to nucleosomal DNA motifs both in vivo and in vitro. BZLF1 co-precipitates with cellular chromatin remodeler ATPases, and the knock-down of one of them, INO80, impaired lytic reactivation and virus synthesis. In Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin-seq experiments, non-accessible chromatin opens up locally when BZLF1 binds to its cognate sequence motifs in viral DNA. We conclude that BZLF1 reactivates the EBV genome by directly binding to silenced chromatin and recruiting cellular chromatin-remodeling enzymes, which implement a permissive state for lytic viral transcription. BZLF1 shares this mode of action with a limited number of cellular pioneer factors, which are instrumental in transcriptional activation, differentiation, and reprogramming in all eukaryotic cells.

scholarly journals Two Roles for the DNA Recognition Site of theKlebsiella aerogenes Nitrogen Assimilation Control Protein

1998 ◽  
Vol 180 (3) ◽  
pp. 578-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo J. Pomposiello ◽  
Brian K. Janes ◽  
Robert A. Bender
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Nitrogen Assimilation ◽  
Proximal Half ◽  
Weak Binding ◽  
A Site ◽  
Control Protein ◽  
Half Site

ABSTRACT The nitrogen assimilation control protein (NAC) binds to a site within the promoter region of the histidine utilization operon (hutUH) of Klebsiella aerogenes, and NAC bound at this site activates transcription of hutUH. This NAC-binding site was characterized by a combination of random and directed DNA mutagenesis. Mutations that abolished or diminished in vivo transcriptional activation by NAC were found to lie within a 15-bp region contained within the 26-bp region protected by NAC from DNase I digestion. This 15-bp core has the palindromic ends ATA and TAT, and it matches the consensus for LysR family transcriptional regulators. Protein-binding experiments showed that transcriptional activation in vivo decreased with decreasing binding in vitro. In contrast to the NAC-binding site from hutUH, the NAC-binding site from thegdhA promoter failed to activate transcription from a semisynthetic promoter, and this failure was not due to weak binding or greatly distorted protein-DNA structure. Mutations in the promoter-proximal half-site of the NAC-binding site fromgdhA allowed this site to activate transcription. Similar studies using the NAC-binding site from hut showed that two mutations in the promoter proximal half-site increased binding but abolished transcriptional activation. Interestingly, for symmetric mutations in the promoter-distal half-site, loss of transcriptional activation was always correlated with a decrease in binding. We conclude from these observations that if the binding in vitro reflects the binding in vivo, then binding of NAC to DNA is not sufficient for transcriptional activation and that the NAC-binding site can be functionally divided in two half-sites, with related but different functions.

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