Barrier proteins remodel and modify chromatin to restrict silenced domains

Mol Cell Biol. 2004 Mar;24(5):1956-67. doi: 10.1128/MCB.24.5.1956-1967.2004.

Abstract

Transcriptionally active and inactive domains are frequently found adjacent to one another in the eukaryotic nucleus. To better understand the underlying mechanisms by which domains maintain opposing transcription patterns, we performed a systematic genomewide screen for proteins that may block the spread of silencing in yeast. This analysis identified numerous proteins with efficient silencing blocking activities, and some of these have previously been shown to be involved in chromatin dynamics. We isolated subunits of Swi/Snf, mediator, and TFIID, as well as subunits of the Sas-I, SAGA, NuA3, NuA4, Spt10p, Rad6p, and Dot1p complexes, as barrier proteins. We demonstrate that histone acetylation and chromatin remodeling occurred at the barrier and correlated with a block to the spread of silencing. Our data suggest that multiple overlapping mechanisms were involved in delimiting silenced and active domains in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Chromatin / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
  • Gene Library
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / metabolism
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Telomere / metabolism

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Histones
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • BAR1 protein, S cerevisiae