Ordered recruitment of chromatin modifying and general transcription factors to the IFN-beta promoter

Abstract

Here, we show that the IFN-beta enhanceosome activates transcription by directing the ordered recruitment of chromatin modifying and general transcription factors to the IFN-beta promoter. The enhanceosome is assembled in the nucleosome-free enhancer region of the IFN-beta gene, leading to the modification and remodeling of a strategically positioned nucleosome that masks the TATA box and the start site of transcription. Initially, the GCN5 complex is recruited, which acetylates the nucleosome, and this is followed by recruitment of the CBP-PolII holoenzyme complex. Nucleosome acetylation in turn facilitates SWI/SNF recruitment by CBP, resulting in chromatin remodeling. This program of recruitment culminates in the binding of TFIID to the promoter and the activation of transcription.