Developmentally induced changes in transcriptional program alter spatial organization across chromosomes

Genes Dev. 2005 May 15;19(10):1188-98. doi: 10.1101/gad.1307205.

Abstract

Although the spatial location of genes within the nucleus has been implicated in their transcriptional status, little is known about the dynamics of gene location that accompany large-scale changes in gene expression. The mating of haploid yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is accompanied by a large-scale change in transcription and developmental program. We examined changes in nuclear organization that accompany stimulus by the mating pheromone alpha factor and found that most alpha-factor-induced genes become associated with components of the nuclear envelope. The myosin-like protein Mlp1, which has been implicated in mRNA export, was further shown to exhibit RNA dependence in its association with alpha-factor-induced genes. High-resolution mapping of association of chromosome III with Mlp1 revealed alpha-factor-dependent determinants of nuclear pore association, including origins of replication, specific intergenic regions, and the 3' ends of transcriptionally activated genes. Taken together, these results reveal RNA- and DNA-dependent determinants of nuclear organization as well as a detailed picture of how an entire chromosome alters its spatial conformation in response to a developmental cue.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Chromosomes, Fungal / physiology*
  • DNA, Intergenic / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / physiology*
  • Nuclear Pore / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Precursors / pharmacology
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Replication Origin / physiology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / physiology*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / pharmacology
  • Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
  • Transcription, Genetic / physiology*

Substances

  • DNA, Intergenic
  • MF(ALPHA)1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • MLP1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein Precursors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins