Tuning Transcription Factor Availability through Acetylation-Mediated Genomic Redistribution
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ABSTRACT: It is widely assumed that decreasing transcription factor DNA-binding affinity reduces transcription initiation by diminishing occupancy of sequence-specific regulatory elements. However in vivo transcription factors find their binding sites while confronted with a large excess of low affinity degenerate motifs. Here we show, using the melanoma lineage survival oncogene MITF as a model, that low affinity binding sites act as a competitive reservoir in vivo from which TFs are released by MAPK-stimulated acetylation to promote increased occupancy of their regulatory elements. Consequently a low DNA-binding affinity acetylation-mimetic MITF mutation supports melanocyte development and drives tumorigenesis, whereas a high affinity, non-acetylatable mutant does neither. The results reveal a paradoxical acetylation-mediated molecular clutch that tunes transcription factor availability via genome-wide titration and couples BRAF to tumorigenesis. Our results further suggest that genomic titration regulated by p300/CBP-mediated acetylation will represent a common mechanism to control TF availability.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE137522 | GEO | 2020/06/11
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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