A matter of access. Nucleosome disassembly from gene promoters is the central goal of transcriptional activators

Transcription. 2014;5(2):e29355. doi: 10.4161/trns.29355.

Abstract

The mechanism whereby transcriptional activators facilitate transcription activation has been debated. Our recent genome-wide profiling of gene expression during aging, where nucleosomes are depleted, indicates that the function of seemingly all transcriptional activators is to trigger nucleosome disassembly from promoters to allow the general transcription machinery access to the DNA.

Keywords: aging; histones; nucleosomes; transcription; yeast.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nucleosomes / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Transcriptional Activation*
  • Yeasts / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Nucleosomes