Combinatorial control of light induced chromatin remodeling and gene activation in Neurospora

PLoS Genet. 2015 Mar 30;11(3):e1005105. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005105. eCollection 2015 Mar.

Abstract

Light is an important environmental cue that affects physiology and development of Neurospora crassa. The light-sensing transcription factor (TF) WCC, which consists of the GATA-family TFs WC1 and WC2, is required for light-dependent transcription. SUB1, another GATA-family TF, is not a photoreceptor but has also been implicated in light-inducible gene expression. To assess regulation and organization of the network of light-inducible genes, we analyzed the roles of WCC and SUB1 in light-induced transcription and nucleosome remodeling. We show that SUB1 co-regulates a fraction of light-inducible genes together with the WCC. WCC induces nucleosome eviction at its binding sites. Chromatin remodeling is facilitated by SUB1 but SUB1 cannot activate light-inducible genes in the absence of WCC. We identified FF7, a TF with a putative O-acetyl transferase domain, as an interaction partner of SUB1 and show their cooperation in regulation of a fraction of light-inducible and a much larger number of non light-inducible genes. Our data suggest that WCC acts as a general switch for light-induced chromatin remodeling and gene expression. SUB1 and FF7 synergistically determine the extent of light-induction of target genes in common with WCC but have in addition a role in transcription regulation beyond light-induced gene expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / genetics*
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / radiation effects
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / radiation effects
  • Light*
  • Neurospora crassa / genetics
  • Neurospora crassa / radiation effects
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcriptional Activation / genetics
  • Transcriptional Activation / radiation effects

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • wc-1 protein, Neurospora crassa
  • white collar 2 protein, Neurospora

Associated data

  • BioProject/PRJNA258518
  • BioProject/PRJNA258593
  • BioProject/PRJNA259408

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft: GRK1188 and SFB1036. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.