Transcription factor clusters regulate genes in eukaryotic cells
Journal article, 2017

Transcription is regulated through binding factors to gene promoters to activate or repress expression, however, the mechanisms by which factors find targets remain unclear. Using single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, we determined in vivo stoichiometry and spatiotemporal dynamics of a GFP tagged repressor, Mig1, from a paradigm signaling pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We find the repressor operates in clusters, which upon extracellular signal detection, translocate from the cytoplasm, bind to nuclear targets and turnover. Simulations of Mig1 configuration within a 3D yeast genome model combined with a promoter-specific, fluorescent translation reporter confirmed clusters are the functional unit of gene regulation. In vitro and structural analysis on reconstituted Mig1 suggests that clusters are stabilized by depletion forces between intrinsically disordered sequences. We observed similar clusters of a co-regulatory activator from a different pathway, supporting a generalized cluster model for transcription factors that reduces promoter search times through intersegment transfer while stabilizing gene expression.

Author

A. J. M. Wollman

University of York

S. Shashkova

University of Gothenburg

University of York

E. G. Hedlund

University of York

R. Friemann

University of Gothenburg

Stefan Hohmann

University of Gothenburg

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering

M. C. Leake

University of York

eLife

2050084x (eISSN)

Vol. 6 e27451

Subject Categories

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

DOI

10.7554/eLife.27451

More information

Latest update

7/21/2023