Pioneer-like factor GAF cooperates with PBAP (SWI/SNF) and NURF (ISWI) to regulate transcription.

ABSTRACT: Transcriptionally silent genes must be activated throughout development. This requires nucleosomes be removed from promoters and enhancers to allow transcription factor (TF) binding and recruitment of coactivators and RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Specialized pioneer TFs bind nucleosome-wrapped DNA to perform this chromatin opening by mechanisms that remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that GAGA factor (GAF), a Drosophila pioneer-like factor, functions with both SWI/SNF and ISWI family chromatin remodelers to allow recruitment of Pol II and entry to a promoter-proximal paused state, and also to promote Pol II's transition to productive elongation. We found that GAF interacts with PBAP (SWI/SNF) to open chromatin and allow Pol II to be recruited. Importantly, this activity is

SUBMITTER: Judd J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7778264 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature