Project description:A fundamental problem in biology is the molecular basis for divergence among related organisms. We have investigated the level of divergence of transcription factor binding sites for two key factors that regulate developmental processes in the budding yeasts. The genomic binding locations for the Ste12 and Tec1 transcription factors in S. cerevisiae, S. mikatae and S. bayanus were mapped by chromatin immunoprecipitation combined with microarrays (chIP chip)1, 2 and compared to one another. While there was a large core network which was conserved in all three species, there were many instances of binding events whose relative levels differ significantly quantitatively in one species relative to another and as well as species-specific binding events. One interesting class of genes were identified that were bound only in S. mikatae and S. bayanus; many of these genes are targets of Ste12 in haploid strains of S. cerevisiae, suggesting that S. cerevisiae has uniquely acquired the ability to differentially regulate these genes in haploid and diploid cells in these species. To extend these studies, the transcriptional network for the Ste12 homologue (Cph1) in Candida albicans was also mapped and compared to the Saccharomyces species. Again, there were several genes bound by Cph1 which are involved in mating in S. cerevisiae, suggesting that the precise delineation between many mating and pseudohyphal targets by Ste12 may be specific to S. cerevisiae. Overall our results demonstrate that transcription binding sites differ faster than gene content indicating that gene regulation at the level of transcription factor binding is likely to be a major mode of evolutionary divergence between related species. We expect that this divergence is essential for the distinct ecological niches inhabited by these organisms. Keywords: chIP-chip
Project description:A fundamental problem in biology is the molecular basis for divergence among related organisms. We have investigated the level of divergence of transcription factor binding sites for two key factors that regulate developmental processes in the budding yeasts. The genomic binding locations for the Ste12 and Tec1 transcription factors in S. cerevisiae, S. mikatae and S. bayanus were mapped by chromatin immunoprecipitation combined with microarrays (chIP chip)1, 2 and compared to one another. While there was a large core network which was conserved in all three species, there were many instances of binding events whose relative levels differ significantly quantitatively in one species relative to another and as well as species-specific binding events. One interesting class of genes were identified that were bound only in S. mikatae and S. bayanus; many of these genes are targets of Ste12 in haploid strains of S. cerevisiae, suggesting that S. cerevisiae has uniquely acquired the ability to differentially regulate these genes in haploid and diploid cells in these species. To extend these studies, the transcriptional network for the Ste12 homologue (Cph1) in Candida albicans was also mapped and compared to the Saccharomyces species. Again, there were several genes bound by Cph1 which are involved in mating in S. cerevisiae, suggesting that the precise delineation between many mating and pseudohyphal targets by Ste12 may be specific to S. cerevisiae. Overall our results demonstrate that transcription binding sites differ faster than gene content indicating that gene regulation at the level of transcription factor binding is likely to be a major mode of evolutionary divergence between related species. We expect that this divergence is essential for the distinct ecological niches inhabited by these organisms. Keywords: chIP-chip ChIP-chip was performed on Ste12 and Tec1 from S. cerevisiae, S. mikatae and S. bayanus in addition to Cph1 from S. cerevisiae. Three biological replicates were performed for each factor in each species with one replicate representing a dye swap.
Project description:Purpose: Pre-ribosomal RNA is cleaved at defined sites to release the mature ribosomal RNAs, but the functions of many ribosome biogenesis factors involved in 18S rRNA release are not known. We apply an in vivo cross-linking technique coupled with deep sequencing (CRAC) that captures transcriptome-wide interactions between the yeast PIN domain protein Utp23 and its targets in a living cell. Methods: We apply CRAC to an HTP-tagged Utp23 protein (HTP: His6 - TEV cleavage site - two copies of the z-domain of Protein A) in budding yeast. At least two independent experiments were performed and analysed separately. A non-tagged yeast strain was also used as a negative control. Results: We found that yeast Utp23 UV-crosslinked in vivo to the snR30 snoRNA and to the eukaryotic-specific expansion segment 6 (ES6) in the 18S rRNA. Conclusion: According to our crosslinking data, Utp23 is perfectly positioned to coordinate release of the snR30 snoRNA from the 18S ES6 region.
Project description:Complex regulation of gene expression in mammals has evolved from simpler eukaryotic systems, yet mechanistic details of this evolution remain elusive. By comparing the transcriptional landscape of distantly related budding and fission yeast, we catch a glimpse of divergence in gene regulation. Using an adapted Precision Run-On sequencing (PRO-seq) approach, we have mapped the positions of RNA polymerase (RNA Pol II) active sites genome-wide in S. pombe and S. cerevisiae at base-pair resolution. We further mapped preferred sites of transcription initiation in each organism, exposing the origins of nascent transcription. Performing PRO-seq in strains lacking Spt4, a highly conserved elongation factor subunit, results in globally elevated levels of transcribing Pol II within genes in both species. Messenger RNA abundance, however, does not reflect the increases in RNA Pol II density, indicating a possible global elongation rate defect. Unexpectedly, we identify a novel pause in early elongation, specific to S. pombe, which requires Spt4, suggesting regulatory potential similar to promoter-proximal pausing in mammals.
Project description:We determined DNA-binding sites of the yeast transcription factor Yfl052w by ChIP-exo. Cells were grown in the YP media containing palatinose. Yfl052w was tagged with HA tag and anti-HA antibody was used for the immunoprecipitation.
Project description:We determined DNA-binding sites of the yeast transcription factor Yfl052w by ChIP-exo. Cells were grown in the YP media containing palatinose. Yfl052w was tagged with HA tag and anti-HA antibody was used for the immunoprecipitation.
Project description:We describe the genome-wide nucleosome profiles of four related yeast species. All species display the same global organization features first described in S. cerevisiae: a stereotypical nucleosome organization along genes, and the classification of promoters into these which contain or lack a pronounced Nucleosome Depleted region (NDR), with the latter displaying a more dynamic pattern of gene expression. This global similarity, however, does not reflect a static evolutionary pattern, as nucleosome positioning at specific genes diverged rapidly leaving practically no similarity between S. cerevisiae and C. glabrata orthologs (~50 Myr). We show that this rapid divergence in nucleosome positioning contrasts a conserved pattern of gene expression, consistent with the idea that divergence of nucleosome patterns has a limited effect on gene expression as many different configurations can support the same regulatory outcome. Nucleosomes from 4 different yeast species were isolated and sequenced using the Illumina GAII platform. Replicates were performed for 3 of the species
Project description:We describe the genome-wide nucleosome profiles of four related yeast species. All species display the same global organization features first described in S. cerevisiae: a stereotypical nucleosome organization along genes, and the classification of promoters into these which contain or lack a pronounced Nucleosome Depleted region (NDR), with the latter displaying a more dynamic pattern of gene expression. This global similarity, however, does not reflect a static evolutionary pattern, as nucleosome positioning at specific genes diverged rapidly leaving practically no similarity between S. cerevisiae and C. glabrata orthologs (~50 Myr). We show that this rapid divergence in nucleosome positioning contrasts a conserved pattern of gene expression, consistent with the idea that divergence of nucleosome patterns has a limited effect on gene expression as many different configurations can support the same regulatory outcome.