Project description:Here we present evidence that precise positioning of the +1 promoter nucleosome in yeast is critical for efficient TBP binding and pre-initiation complex assembly, and is determined, at least in part, by the action of two key factors, the essential chromatin remodeler RSC and one (or more) of a small set of ubiquitous pioneer transcription factors (PTFs). Despite their widespread co-localization, we show that RSC and PTFs often act independently to generate accessible chromatin. Furthermore, we present evidence that RSC binding, as well as the strength and directionality of its action on nucleosomes, depends upon the arrangement of two specific DNA motifs relative to nearby PTF binding sites. Our results provide insights into how promoter DNA sequence instructs trans-acting factors to precisely control nucleosome architecture and stimulate transcription initiation.
Project description:Here we present evidence that precise positioning of the +1 promoter nucleosome in yeast is critical for efficient TBP binding and pre-initiation complex assembly, and is determined, at least in part, by the action of two key factors, the essential chromatin remodeler RSC and one (or more) of a small set of ubiquitous pioneer transcription factors (PTFs). Despite their widespread co-localization, we show that RSC and PTFs often act independently to generate accessible chromatin. Furthermore, we present evidence that RSC binding, as well as the strength and directionality of its action on nucleosomes, depends upon the arrangement of two specific DNA motifs relative to nearby PTF binding sites. Our results provide insights into how promoter DNA sequence instructs trans-acting factors to precisely control nucleosome architecture and stimulate transcription initiation.