Project description:How is chromatin architecture established and what role does it play in activation of transcription? We show that a regulatory locus in yeast (the UASg) bears, in addition to binding sites for the activator Gal4, sites bound by the protein RSC. RSC tightly positions a nucleosome, evidently partially unwound, in a structure that facilitates Gal4 binding to its sites. The complex comprises a barrier that suffices to impose characteristic features of chromatin architecture. Removal of RSC allows ordinary nucleosomes to form more broadly over the UASg, and these nucleosomes compete with (but do not exclude) Gal4 binding to its sites. Taken with our previous work, the results show that both prior to and following induction specific DNA binding proteins are the predominant determinants of chromatin architecture at the GAL1/10 genes. RSC/nucleosome complexes are found scattered throughout the yeast genome. We surmise, also, that Gal4 works in higher eukaryotes despite whatever obstacle broadly positioned nucleosomes present. Chromatin was digested under conditions that yielded primarily mononucleosomes, and RSC-bearing fragments were recovered on IgG-beads. Fragments (of size ca. 50-200 bp) were analyzed by paired-end high throughput DNA sequencing (Illumina). This technique determines the sequences found at both ends of each fragment, thus revealing the sizes and genomic origin of these fragments.
Project description:How is chromatin architecture established and what role does it play in activation of transcription? We show that a regulatory locus in yeast (the UASg) bears, in addition to binding sites for the activator Gal4, sites bound by the protein RSC. RSC tightly positions a nucleosome, evidently partially unwound, in a structure that facilitates Gal4 binding to its sites. The complex comprises a barrier that suffices to impose characteristic features of chromatin architecture. Removal of RSC allows ordinary nucleosomes to form more broadly over the UASg, and these nucleosomes compete with (but do not exclude) Gal4 binding to its sites. Taken with our previous work, the results show that both prior to and following induction specific DNA binding proteins are the predominant determinants of chromatin architecture at the GAL1/10 genes. RSC/nucleosome complexes are found scattered throughout the yeast genome. We surmise, also, that Gal4 works in higher eukaryotes despite whatever obstacle broadly positioned nucleosomes present.
Project description:RSC (Remodels the Structure of Chromatin) is a conserved ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex that regulates many biological processes, including transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II). We report that not only RSC binds to nucleosomes in coding sequences (CDSs) but also remodels them to promote transcription. RSC MNase ChIP-seq data revealed that RSC-protected fragments were very heterogenous (~80 bp to 180 bp) compared to the sharper profile displayed by the MNase inputs (140 bp to 160 bp), supporting the idea that RSC activity promotes accessibility of nucleosomal DNA. Importantly, RSC binding to +1 nucleosomes and CDSs, but not with -1 nucleosomes, strongly correlated with Pol II occupancies suggesting that the RSC enrichment in CDSs is important for efficient transcription. This is further supported by a similar heterogenous distribution of Pol II-protected fragments. As such, the genes harboring high-levels of RSC in their CDSs were the most strongly affected by ablating RSC function. Altogether, this study provides a mechanism by which RSC-mediated remodeling aids in RNA Pol II traversal though coding sequence nucleosomes in vivo.
Project description:Chromatin remodelers regulate genes by organizing nucleosomes around promoters, but their individual contributions are obfuscated by the complex in vivo milieu of factor redundancy and indirect effects. Genome-wide reconstitution of promoter nucleosome organization with purified proteins resolves this problem and is therefore a critical goal. Here we reconstitute four stages of nucleosome architecture using purified components: Yeast genomic DNA, histones, sequence-specific Abf1/Reb1, and remodelers RSC, ISW2, INO80, and ISW1a. We identify direct, specific and sufficient contributions that in vivo observations validate. First, RSC clears promoters by translating poly(dA:dT) into directional nucleosome removal. Second, partial redundancy is recapitulated where INO80 alone, or ISW2 at Abf1/Reb1sites, positions +1 nucleosomes. Third, INO80 and ISW2 each align downstream nucleosomal arrays. Fourth, ISW1a tightens the spacing to canonical repeat lengths. Such a minimal set of rules and proteins establishes core mechanisms by which promoter chromatin architecture arises through a blend of redundancy and specialization.
Project description:Nucleosomes in active chromatin are dynamic, but whether they have distinct structural conformations is unknown. To identify nucleosomes with alternative structures genome-wide, we used H4S47C-anchored cleavage mapping, which revealed that nucleosomes at 5% of budding yeast nucleosome positions have asymmetric histone-DNA interactions. These asymmetric interactions are enriched at nucleosome positions that flank promoters. Micrococcal nuclease (MNase) sequence-based profiles of asymmetric nucleosome positions revealed a corresponding asymmetry in MNase protection near the dyad axis, suggesting that the loss of DNA contacts around H4S47 is accompanied by protection of the DNA from MNase. Chromatin immunoprecipitation mapping of selected nucleosome remodelers indicated that asymmetric nucleosomes are bound by the RSC chromatin remodeling complex, which is required for maintaining nucleosomes at asymmetric positions. These results imply that the asymmetric nucleosome-RSC complex is a metastable intermediate representing partial unwrapping and protection of nucleosomal DNA on one side of the dyad axis during chromatin remodeling. We have analyzed the chromatin landscape of the yeast genome using paired-end MNase-seq and the chromatin binding of yeast remodelers Swr1, Ino80 and RSC at base-pair resolution using native chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (N-ChIP-seq).
Project description:Chromatin transactions are typically studied in vivo, or in vitro using artificial chromatin lacking the epigenetic complexity of the natural material. Attempting to bridge the gap between these approaches, we established a system for isolating the yeast genome as a library of mono-nucleosomes harbouring the natural epigenetic signature, suitable for biochemical manipulation. Combined with deep sequencing, this library was used to investigate the stability of individual nucleosomes, and – as proof of principle - the nucleosome preference of the chromatin remodeling complex, RSC. In order to generate a library of native yeast nucleosomes, we developed a three-step purification protocol: first, purified yeast nuclei were incubated with micrococcal nuclease (MNase), which preferentially digests naked DNA to generate short chromatin fragments. The resulting fragments were extracted from the nuclei, then bound to and eluted from DEAE sepharose. This was followed by ultracentrifugation through a sucrose gradient to separate the fragments by length to further remove contaminating proteins and free DNA. We chose a simple disassembly assay, which involves incubating the nucleosome library with ATP and the histone chaperone Nap1, with or without RSC. In this assay, RSC binds to nucleosomes and transfers the histones to Nap1, thereby releasing ‘naked’ DNA. Under certain conditions, reaction intermediates can be observed (tetramers or hexasomes), but for simplicity we chose to compare the input nucleosomes with the final naked DNA product. To separate the RSC-dependent released DNA from the non-remodeled nucleosomes, the reactions were subjected to native agarose gel electrophoresis, and DNA of the four bands isolated by gel-extraction. The upper bands, harboring nucleosomes, were named NUC (no RSC) and NUCR (with RSC), whereas the lower, ‘naked’ DNA bands were named DNA (no RSC) and DNAR (with RSC).
Project description:ISWI-family chromatin remodelers organize nucleosome arrays, while SWI/SNF-family remodelers (RSC) disorganize and eject nucleosomes, implying an antagonism that is largely unexplored in vivo. Here, we describe two independent genetic screens for rsc suppressors that yielded mutations in the promoter-focused ISW1a complex, or mutations in the ‘basic patch’ of histone H4 (an epitope that regulates ISWI activity), strongly supporting RSC-ISW1a antagonism in vivo. RSC and ISW1a largely co-localize, and genomic nucleosome studies using rsc isw1 mutant combinations revealed opposing functions: promoters classified with a nucleosome-deficient region (NDR) gain nucleosome occupancy in rsc mutants, but this gain is attenuated in rsc isw1 double mutants. Furthermore, promoters lacking NDRs have the highest occupancy of both remodelers, consistent with regulation by nucleosome occupancy, and decreased transcription in rsc mutants. Taken together, we provide the first genetic and genomic evidence for RSC-ISW1a antagonism, and reveal different mechanisms at two different promoter architectures. Genome-wide nucleosome occupancy maps in RSC and rsc null strains were generated by paired-end sequencing of mononucleosomal DNA. Strains carrying the Sth1 degron allele and either pGal-UBR1 (YBC3386) or ubr1 null (YBC3387) represent RSC null and RSC wildtype, respectively.
Project description:The classic view of nucleosome organization at active promoters is that two well-positioned nucleosomes flank a nucleosome-depleted region (NDR). However, this view has been recently challenged by contradictory reports as to whether a distinct set of wider (≳150 bp) NDRs instead contain unusually unstable Micrococcal Nuclease-sensitive “fragile” particles, thought to be nucleosomal because of their size. To determine the composition of fragile particles we introduce CUT&RUN.ChIP, in which targeted nuclease cleavage and release is followed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. We find that fragile particles represent the occupancy and action of the RSC nucleosome remodeler acting on dynamically unwrapped nucleosomal intermediates. We also find that general regulatory factors (GRFs) bind to partially unwrapped nucleosomal intermediates at NDRs. We propose that RSC-engagement and its action cause nucleosomes to unravel, and subsequent binding of GRFs constitute a dynamic cycle of nucleosome deposition and clearance at the subset of wide Pol II promoter NDRs.
Project description:ISWI-family chromatin remodelers organize nucleosome arrays, while SWI/SNF-family remodelers (RSC) disorganize and eject nucleosomes, implying an antagonism that is largely unexplored in vivo. Here, we describe two independent genetic screens for rsc suppressors that yielded mutations in the promoter-focused ISW1a complex, or mutations in the ‘basic patch’ of histone H4 (an epitope that regulates ISWI activity), strongly supporting RSC-ISW1a antagonism in vivo. RSC and ISW1a largely co-localize, and genomic nucleosome studies using rsc isw1 mutant combinations revealed opposing functions: promoters classified with a nucleosome-deficient region (NDR) gain nucleosome occupancy in rsc mutants, but this gain is attenuated in rsc isw1 double mutants. Furthermore, promoters lacking NDRs have the highest occupancy of both remodelers, consistent with regulation by nucleosome occupancy, and decreased transcription in rsc mutants. Taken together, we provide the first genetic and genomic evidence for RSC-ISW1a antagonism, and reveal different mechanisms at two different promoter architectures. Genomic localization of RSC, ISW1a, and SWI/SNF complexes were measured by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by Illumina paired-end sequencing. Four strains were analyzed, including Rsc8-9xMyc (YBC2882), Sth1-2xFlag (YBC601 p3018), Ioc3-13xMyc (YBC2883), and Snf2-13xMyc (YBC3010). Each sample consists of one chromatin immunoprecipitate and one input chromatin control.
Project description:The nucleosome remodeling complex RSC functions throughout the yeast genome to set the positions of -1 and +1 nucleosomes and thereby determines the widths of nucleosome-depleted regions (NDRs). The related complex SWI/SNF participates in nucleosome remodeling/eviction and promoter activation at certain yeast genes, including those activated by transcription factor Gcn4, but does not appear to function broadly in establishing NDRs. By analyzing the large cohort of Gcn4-induced genes in mutants lacking the catalytic subunits of SWI/SNF or RSC, we uncovered cooperation between these remodelers in evicting nucleosomes from different locations in the promoter and in repositioning the +1 nucleosome downstream to produce wider NDRs, highly depleted of nucleosomes, during transcriptional activation. SWI/SNF also functions on par with RSC at the most highly transcribed constitutively expressed genes, suggesting general cooperation by these remodelers for maximal transcription. SWI/SNF and RSC occupancies are greatest at the most highly expressed genes, consistent with their cooperative functions in nucleosome remodeling and transcriptional activation. Thus, SWI/SNF acts comparably to RSC in forming wide, nucleosome-free NDRs to achieve high-level transcription, but only at the most highly expressed genes exhibiting the greatest SWI/SNF occupancies.