title: Single-molecule analysis of transcription factor binding at transcription sites in live cells.
abstract: Although numerous live-cell measurements have shown that transcription factors (TFs) bind chromatin transiently, no measurements of transient binding have been reported at the endogenous response elements (REs) where transcription is normally induced. Here we show that at endogenous REs the transcriptionally productive specific binding of two TFs, p53 and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), is transient. We also find that the transient residence times of GR at endogenous REs are roughly comparable to those at an artificial, multi-copy array of gene regulatory sites, supporting the use of multi-copy arrays for live-cell analysis of transcription. Finally, we find that at any moment only a small fraction of TF molecules are engaged in transcriptionally productive binding at endogenous REs. The small fraction of bound factors provides one explanation for gene bursting and it also indicates that REs may often be unoccupied, resulting in partial responses to transcriptional signals.
authors.affiliation: 1] Fluorescence Imaging Group, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA [2].
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morisaki
authors.affiliation: 1] Fluorescence Imaging Group, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA [2].
authors.forename: Waltraud G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie Graz, 8036 Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 25/1, Austria.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Golob
authors.affiliation: Università Vita Salute San Raffaele e IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.affiliation: 1] Fluorescence Imaging Group, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA [2].
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: McNally
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020218:Response Elements; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024363:Transcription Initiation Site; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53