Transcription initiation platforms and GTF recruitment at tissue-specific enhancers and promoters

Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2011 Jul 17;18(8):956-63. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.2085.

Abstract

Recent work has shown that RNA polymerase (Pol) II can be recruited to and transcribe distal regulatory regions. Here we analyzed transcription initiation and elongation through genome-wide localization of Pol II, general transcription factors (GTFs) and active chromatin in developing T cells. We show that Pol II and GTFs are recruited to known T cell-specific enhancers. We extend this observation to many new putative enhancers, a majority of which can be transcribed with or without polyadenylation. Importantly, we also identify genomic features called transcriptional initiation platforms (TIPs) that are characterized by large areas of Pol II and GTF recruitment at promoters, intergenic and intragenic regions. TIPs show variable widths (0.4-10 kb) and correlate with high CpG content and increased tissue specificity at promoters. Finally, we also report differential recruitment of TFIID and other GTFs at promoters and enhancers. Overall, we propose that TIPs represent important new regulatory hallmarks of the genome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CpG Islands
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic*
  • Mice
  • Polyadenylation
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • RNA Polymerase II / chemistry
  • RNA Polymerase II / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors, General / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors, General / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors, General / physiology
  • Transcription Initiation Site*

Substances

  • Transcription Factors, General
  • DNA
  • RNA Polymerase II

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE29362