High-resolution chromatin dynamics during a yeast stress response

Mol Cell. 2015 Apr 16;58(2):371-86. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2015.02.002. Epub 2015 Mar 19.

Abstract

Covalent histone modifications are highly conserved and play multiple roles in eukaryotic transcription regulation. Here, we mapped 26 histone modifications genome-wide in exponentially growing yeast and during a dramatic transcriptional reprogramming-the response to diamide stress. We extend prior studies showing that steady-state histone modification patterns reflect genomic processes, especially transcription, and display limited combinatorial complexity. Interestingly, during the stress response we document a modest increase in the combinatorial complexity of histone modification space, resulting from roughly 3% of all nucleosomes transiently populating rare histone modification states. Most of these rare histone states result from differences in the kinetics of histone modification that transiently uncouple highly correlated marks, with slow histone methylation changes often lagging behind the more rapid acetylation changes. Explicit analysis of modification dynamics uncovers ordered sequences of events in gene activation and repression. Together, our results provide a comprehensive view of chromatin dynamics during a massive transcriptional upheaval.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatin / genetics*
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / drug effects
  • Diamide / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Genome, Fungal
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / physiology
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Histones
  • Diamide

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE61888