Chromatin remodelling and the transcription cycle

Vikki M. Weake and Jerry L. Workman

Transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) occurs in the context of
chromatin within a eukaryotic cell. Chromatin is generally inhibitory
to transcription, so a variety of mechanisms are required to activate
transcription from a nucleosomal template. One of the first steps is that
large co-activator complexes interact with small activator proteins to
GENETICS identify gene promoters that are ready to be transcribed. Nucleosome
remodelling complexes that use energy from ATP to move or displace
nucleosomes from DNA facilitate the recruitment and assembly of
these complexes on the promoter and enable rapid gene activation.
Even during transcription elongation, nucleosomes must be removed
for efficient passage of the polymerase. Furthermore, these same
nucleosomes must be reassembled rapidly and modified appropriately
following passage of the polymerase to prevent inappropriate initiation
of transcription from promoter-like elements within the coding region.

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Supplement to Nature Publishing Group

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VJGPCDNGVQTGETWKV2QN++CPFEQORQPGPVUQHVJGIGPGTCNVTCPUETKRVKQP ICNCEVQUGTGNGCUGUVJGCEVKXCVQT
OCEJKPGT[CPFVTCPUETKRVKQPECPDGKPKVKCVGFKPCRRTQRTKCVGN[CVVJGUG 6TCPUETKRVKQP #EVKXCVQTFGRGPFGPV
TGETWKVOGPVQHEQCEVKXCVQTU )CNHTQOKVUTGRTGUUQT)CN
ET[RVKEKPKVKCVKQPUKVGU6JWURTQRGTTGIWNCVKQPQHJKUVQPGCUUGODN[ %6& GNQPICVKQP  YJKEJDGEQOGUUGSWGUVGTGFKP
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QTCPIG
59+50(TGETWKVOGPV PWENGUQOGKPFKECVGUOQXGOGPV
2TGJGCVUJQEM )GPG TGOQFGNNKPIGPJCPEGUVJG
O40# %JTQOCVKP
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TGOQFGNNGT 6JGEGPVTCNE[ENGUJQYUUQOGQH UVCTVUKVG
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26'(DRJQURJQT[NCVGU 2QN++ 52
6QIGVJGTEJTQOCVKP
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• Chromatin remodelling • Transcription Quality and honesty are our top priorities. Our Abpromise offers References Abbreviations Acknowledgements
• Chromosome structure • DNA methylation 100% scientific and customer support of any product purchased from Fuda, N. J., Ardehali, M. B. & Lis, J. T. Defining mechanisms that regulate RNA CDK, cell division protein kinase; COMPASS, complex The authors are at the Stowers Institute for Medical
• RNA/DNA • Chromatin modifying enzymes Abcam or one of our authorized distributors. If our products do not polymerase II transcription in vivo. Nature 461, 186–192 (2009) | Weake, V. M. & proteins associated with Set1; DSIF, DRB sensitivity- Research, Kansas City, Missouri, USA. They thank members
Workman, J. L. Inducible gene expression: diverse regulatory mechanisms. Nature inducing factor; GAF, GAGA factor; HSF, heat shock factor; of the Workman laboratory for helpful comments and
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Rev. Genet. 11, 426–437 (2010) | Kornberg, R. D. The molecular basis of eukaryotic Hsp70, heat shock protein 70; NELF, negative elongation suggestions during preparation of this poster.
looking for new targets and improving our existing antibodies. from date of purchase so we can help you or offer a replacement or
transcription. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 104, 12955–12961 (2007) | Orphanides, G. factor; PARP, poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase; P-TEFb,
To help us with this, we actively attend, support and help refund. Our web-based catalogue allows daily updates and far more & Reinberg, D. A unified theory of gene expression. Cell 108, 439–451 (2002) | positive transcription elongation factor b; SWI/SNF, Edited by Mary Muers; copyedited by Lewis Packwood;
organize conferences on chromatin and nuclear signalling information than any printed catalogue including customer reviews, Ptashne, M. & Gann, A. Transcriptional activation by recruitment. Nature 386, switch/sucrose non-fermentable; TBP, TATA box binding designed by Patrick Morgan.
research. Find out more on our chromatin resource page: technical enquiries and links to publication references. Visit our 569–577 (1997) | Roeder, R. G. Transcriptional regulation and the role of diverse protein; TFII, transcription factor II; Tra1, transcription © 2011 Nature Publishing Group.
www.abcam.com/chromatin. website today and see for yourself: www.abcam.com. coactivators in animal cells. FEBS Lett. 579, 909–915 (2005) associated protein 1; UAS, upstream activating sequence http://www.nature.com/nrg/posters/remodelling

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