Project description:This study has determined structure of transcription initiation complexes including a DNA-bound activator, RNA polymerase II (Pol II), and Mediator on a divergent promoter GAL80/SUT719 using a combination of cryo-EM and XL-MS analyses. Our cryo-EM single-particle analysis reveals a dimeric form of Med-PIC through the Mediator Tail module induced by the activator protein. Density of the upstream DNA bound to the Gal4-VP16 was identifiable along the Mediator Tail module, while XL-MS localized flexible regions that were not visible by cryo-EM analysis, such as activator-binding domains (ABDs and KIX).
Project description:Our mechanistic understanding of Mediator derives largely from studies of the 25-subunit yeast complex. Here we combine CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screens, degron assays, in situ Hi-C, and cryo-EM to dissect the function and structure of the 33-subunit mammalian Mediator (mMED). Deletion analyses in B, T and ES cells reveal that depletion of the entire complex blocks PolII recruitment genome-wide, while loss of non-essential subunits, including the Tail module, primarily affects promoters linked to multiple enhancers. Contrary to current models, we find that mMED is not required to tether regulatory DNA, a topological activity controlled predominantly by architectural proteins. Structurally, we show that alterations in the Tail module, particularly at the core-Tail interphase, effect crucial mMED-PolII contacts, providing a rationale for how TFs stabilize the mMED-PolII holoenzyme and promote gene expression. Our studies therefore reveal key insights into how Mediator functionally bridge promoters and enhancers to regulate transcription initiation in higher eukaryotes.
Project description:The ring-like cohesin complex plays an essential role in chromosome segregation, organization, and double-strand break repair through its ability to bring two DNA double helices together. Scc2 (NIPBL in humans) together with Scc4 function as the loader of cohesin onto chromosomes. Chromatin adapters such as the RSC complex facilitate localization of the Scc2-Scc4 cohesin loader. Here we identify a broad range of Scc2- chromatin protein interactions that are evolutionarily conserved and reveal a role for one complex, Mediator, in recruitment of the cohesin loader. We identified budding yeast Med14, a subunit of the Mediator complex, as a high copy suppressor of poor growth in Scc2 mutant strains. Physical and genetic interactions between Scc2 and Mediator are functionally substantiated in direct recruitment and cohesion assays. Depletion of Med14 results in defective sister chromatid cohesion and decreased binding of Scc2 at RNA Pol II transcribed genes. Previous work has suggested that Mediator, Nipbl, and cohesin connect enhancers and promoters of active mammalian genes. Our studies suggest an evolutionarily conserved fundamental role for Mediator in direct recruitment of Scc2 to RNA pol II transcribed genes. We identified two mutations in the evolutionarily conserved HEAT domain of SCC2 that result in significantly reduced growth, scc2R787G and scc2G1242V. This experiment uses RNA-Seq analysis to study the effect of these mutations on gene expression.
Project description:The ring-like cohesin complex plays an essential role in chromosome segregation, organization, and double-strand break repair through its ability to bring two DNA double helices together. Scc2 (NIPBL in humans) together with Scc4 function as the loader of cohesin onto chromosomes. Chromatin adapters such as the RSC complex facilitate localization of the Scc2-Scc4 cohesin loader. Here we identify a broad range of Scc2- chromatin protein interactions that are evolutionarily conserved and reveal a role for one complex, Mediator, in recruitment of the cohesin loader. We identified budding yeast Med14, a subunit of the Mediator complex, as a high copy suppressor of poor growth in Scc2 mutant strains. Physical and genetic interactions between Scc2 and Mediator are functionally substantiated in direct recruitment and cohesion assays. Depletion of Med14 results in defective sister chromatid cohesion and decreased binding of Scc2 at RNA Pol II transcribed genes. Previous work has suggested that Mediator, Nipbl, and cohesin connect enhancers and promoters of active mammalian genes. Our studies suggest an evolutionarily conserved fundamental role for Mediator in direct recruitment of Scc2 to RNA pol II transcribed genes. We identified two mutations in the evolutionarily conserved HEAT domain of SCC2 that result in significantly reduced growth, scc2R787G and scc2G1242V. This experiment uses RNA-Seq analysis to study the effect of these mutations on gene expression.