Barrier proteins remodel and modify chromatin to restrict silenced domains

M Oki, L Valenzuela, T Chiba, T Ito… - Molecular and cellular …, 2004 - Am Soc Microbiol
M Oki, L Valenzuela, T Chiba, T Ito, RT Kamakaka
Molecular and cellular biology, 2004Am Soc Microbiol
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 …
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.
American Society for Microbiology