Project description:Abf1 and Rap1 are General Regulatory Factors that contribute to transcriptional activation of a large number of genes, as well as to replication, silencing, and telomere structure in yeast. In spite of their widespread roles in transcription, the scope of their functional targets genome-wide has not been previously determined. We have used microarrays to examine the contribution of these essential GRFs to transcription genome-wide, by using ts mutants that dissociate from their binding sites at 37 C. We combined this data with published ChIP-chip studies and motif analysis to identify probable direct targets for Abf1 and Rap1. We also identified a substantial number of genes likely to bind Rap1 or Abf1, but not affected by loss of GRF binding. Interestingly, the results strongly suggest that Rap1 can contribute to gene activation from farther upstream than can Abf1. Also, consistent with previous work, more genes that bind Abf1 are unaffected by loss of binding than those that bind Rap1. Finally, we showed for several such genes that the Abf1 C-terminal region, which contains the putative activation domain, is not needed to confer this peculiar "memory effect" that allows continued transcription after loss of Abf1 binding. Experiment Overall Design: Three replicates each of rap1 ts and abf1 ts yeast were grown at 25 C and shifted to 37 C, along with matched wild type controls, prior to RNA isolation. The ts mutants lose DNA binding at 37 C.
Project description:Abf1 and Rap1 are General Regulatory Factors that contribute to transcriptional activation of a large number of genes, as well as to replication, silencing, and telomere structure in yeast. In spite of their widespread roles in transcription, the scope of their functional targets genome-wide has not been previously determined. We have used microarrays to examine the contribution of these essential GRFs to transcription genome-wide, by using ts mutants that dissociate from their binding sites at 37 C. We combined this data with published ChIP-chip studies and motif analysis to identify probable direct targets for Abf1 and Rap1. We also identified a substantial number of genes likely to bind Rap1 or Abf1, but not affected by loss of GRF binding. Interestingly, the results strongly suggest that Rap1 can contribute to gene activation from farther upstream than can Abf1. Also, consistent with previous work, more genes that bind Abf1 are unaffected by loss of binding than those that bind Rap1. Finally, we showed for several such genes that the Abf1 C-terminal region, which contains the putative activation domain, is not needed to confer this peculiar "memory effect" that allows continued transcription after loss of Abf1 binding. Keywords: Genetic modification (ts mutant versus wild type)
Project description:We grew wild type and corresponding mutant abf1 and rap1 temperature sensitive yeast at 25 C, then for one hour after shifting to 37 C. We then prepared nucleosomal (mostly mononucleosomal) DNA and hybridized to tiling arrays. Three abf1 ts mutant and corresponding wild type, and three rap1 ts mutant and corresponding wild type (note not the same wild type; BY4741 for Rap1, but TMY86 for Abf1)
Project description:We grew wild type and corresponding mutant abf1 and rap1 temperature sensitive yeast at 25 C, then for one hour after shifting to 37 C. We then prepared nucleosomal (mostly mononucleosomal) DNA and hybridized to tiling arrays.
Project description:Seven temperature sensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4741 mutants (rsc3-1, abf1-101, reb1-212, rap1-1, mcm1, tbf1 and cep3-1) were grown at restrictive temperatures until a difference in OD600 was observed relative to a wild-type control. Nucleosomal DNA, whole genomic DNA and total RNA were isolated and hybridized onto yeast whole-genome tiling arrays.<br>
Project description:During lagging-strand synthesis, strand-displacement synthesis by DNA polymerase delta (Pol ∂), coupled to nucleolytic cleavage of DNA flap structures, combine to produce a nick translation reaction that replaces the DNA at the 5’ end of the preceding Okazaki fragment. Previous work following depletion of DNA ligase I in Saccharomyces cerevisae suggests that DNA-bound proteins, principally nucleosomes and the transcription factors Abf1/Rap1/Reb1, pose a barrier to Pol ∂ synthesis and thereby limit the extent of nick translation in vivo. However, the extended ligase depletion required for these experiments could lead to ongoing, non-physiological nick translation. Here, we investigate nick translation by analyzing Okazaki fragments purified after transient nuclear depletion of DNA ligase I in synchronized or asynchronous S. cerevisiae cultures. We observe that, even with a short ligase depletion, Okazaki fragment termini are enriched around nucleosomes and Abf1/Reb1/Rap1 binding sites. However protracted ligase depletion leads to a global change in the location of these termini, moving them towards nucleosome dyads from a more upstream location and further enriching termini at Abf1/Reb1/Rap1 binding sites. Additionally, we observe an under-representation of DNA derived from DNA polymerase alpha – the polymerase that initiates Okazaki fragment synthesis – around the sites of Okazaki termini obtained from transient ligase depletion. Our data suggest that, while nucleosomes and transcription factors do limit strand-displacement synthesis by Pol ∂ in vivo, post-replicative nick translation can occur at unligated Okazaki fragment termini such that previous analyses represent an overestimate of the extent of nick translation occurring during normal lagging-strand synthesis.
Project description:We have performed a comprehensive analysis of the involvement of histone H3 and H4 residues in the regulation of chronological lifespan in yeast. Residues where substitution resulted in the most pronounced lifespan extension are all on the exposed face of the nucleosome, with the exception of H3E50, which is present on the lateral surface, between two DNA gyres. Other residues that had a more modest effect on lifespan extension were concentrated at the extremities of the H3-H4 dimer, suggesting a role in stabilizing the dimer in its nucleosome frame. Residues implicated in a reduced lifespan were buried in the histone handshake motif, suggesting that these mutations destabilize the octamer structure. All residues exposed on the disk and that caused lifespan extension are known to interact with Sir3. We find that substitution of H4K16 and H4H18 cause Sir3 to redistribute from telomeres and silent mating loci to secondary positions, often enriched for Rap1 or Abf1 binding sites, whereas H3E50 does not. The redistributed Sir3 cause transcriptional repression at most of the new loci, including of genes where null mutants were previously shown to extend chronological lifespan. The transcriptomic profiles of H4K16 and H4H18 mutant strains are very similar, and compatible with a DNA replication stress response. This is distinct from the transcriptomic profile of H3E50, which matches strong induction of oxidative phosphorylation. We propose that different clusters of H3 and H4 residues are involved in either binding to non-histone proteins, or in destabilizing the association of the nucleosome DNA, or disrupting binding of a H3-H4 dimer in the nucleosome, or disturbing the structural stability of the octamer, each category impacting on chronological lifespan through a different path.