Upstream binding factor association induces large-scale chromatin decondensation.

ABSTRACT: The function of upstream binding factor (UBF), an essential component of the RNA polymerase (pol) I preinitiation complex, is unclear. Recently, UBF was found distributed throughout ribosomal gene repeats rather than being restricted to promoter regions. This observation has led to the speculation that one role of UBF binding may be to induce chromatin remodeling. To directly evaluate the impact of UBF on chromatin structure, we used an in vivo assay in which UBF is targeted via a lac repressor fusion protein to a heterochromatic, amplified chromosome region containing lac operator repeats. We show that the association of UBF with this locus induces large-scale chromatin decondensation. This process does not appear to involve common remodeling complexes, including SWI/SNF and histone acety

SUBMITTER: Chen D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC524054 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature