Phase-separated NDF-FACT condensates facilitate transcription elongation on chromatin.

ABSTRACT: How the facilitates chromatin transcription (FACT) complex enables RNA polymerase II to overcome chromatin barriers in cells remains poorly understood-especially given the limited direct interactions of FACT with polymerases, DNA or nucleosomes. Here we demonstrate that phase separation, mediated by nucleosome destabilizing factor (NDF), is a key mechanism enabling the function of FACT during transcription elongation. Through biochemical and single-molecule assays, we found that NDF-FACT condensates create specialized biochemical environments that enhance transcription efficiency approximately 20-fold compared with FACT alone. These dynamic condensates form on transcribing RNA polymerase II and travel along chromatin, where they promote efficient nucleosome disassembly at barriers while re

SUBMITTER: Li Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12611769 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature