Altered nucleosome occupancy and histone H3K4 methylation in response to 'transcriptional stress'.
We report that under 'transcriptional stress' in budding yeast, when most pol II activity is acutely inhibited, rapid deposition of nucleosomes occurs within genes, particularly at 3' positions. Whereas histone H3K4 trimethylation normally marks 5' ends of highly transcribed genes, under 'transcriptional stress' induced by 6-azauracil (6-AU) and inactivation of pol II, TFIIE or CTD kinases Kin28 and Ctk1, this mark shifted to the 3' end of the TEF1 gene. H3K4Me3 at 3' positions was dynamic and could be rapidly removed when transcription recovered. Set1 and Chd1 are required for H3K4 trimethylation at 3' positions when transcription is inhibited by 6-AU. Furthermore, Deltachd1 suppressed the growth defect of Deltaset1. We suggest that a 'transcriptional stress' signal sensed through Set1, Chd1, and possibly other factors, causes H3K4 hypermethylation of newly deposited nucleosomes at downstream positions within a gene. This response identifies a new role for H3K4 trimethylation at the 3' end of the gene, as a chromatin mark associated with impaired pol II transcription.
Zhang
Lian
L
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, UCHSC at Fitzsimons, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
Schroeder
Stephanie
S
Fong
Nova
N
Bentley
David L
DL
D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D004257:DNA Polymerase II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation; D009154:Mutation; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014498:Uracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
C489847:CHD1 protein, S cerevisiae; D002843:Chromatin; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones; D009707:Nucleosomes; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII; C066644:transcription factor TFIIE; D014498:Uracil; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; C411250:SET1 protein, S cerevisiae; D011494:Protein Kinases; C060137:carboxy-terminal domain kinase; D004257:DNA Polymerase II; C100248:azauracil