title: DNA-binding properties of the yeast SWI/SNF complex.
abstract: The SWI/SNF complex is required for the enhancement of transcription by many transcriptional activators in yeast. Genetic and biochemical studies indicate that the complex facilitates activator function by antagonizing chromatin-mediated transcriptional repression. The absence of known DNA-binding motifs in several SWI/SNF subunits and the failure to identify SWI/SNF-dependent DNA-binding activities in crude yeast extracts have led to the belief that the complex does not bind DNA. Here we show that the SWI/SNF complex has a high affinity for DNA and that its DNA-binding properties are similar to those of proteins containing HMG-box domains. The complex interacts with the minor groove of the DNA helix, binds synthetic four-way junction DNA, and introduces positive supercoils into relaxed plasmid DNA. These properties are likely to be important in the remodelling of chromatin structure by the SWI/SNF complex
authors.affiliation: Program in Molecular Medicine and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical Centre, Worcester, 01605, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fyrberg
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Ganster
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D001483:Base Sequence; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism*; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C094753:SNF11 protein, S cerevisiae; C078562:SWI1 protein, S cerevisiae; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; C499333:SNF2 protein, S cerevisiae