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Meeussen JVW, Pomp W, Brouwer I, de Jonge WJ, Patel HP, Lenstra TL. Transcription factor clusters enable target search but do not contribute to target gene activation. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:5449-5468. [PMID: 36987884 PMCID: PMC10287935 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Many transcription factors (TFs) localize in nuclear clusters of locally increased concentrations, but how TF clustering is regulated and how it influences gene expression is not well understood. Here, we use quantitative microscopy in living cells to study the regulation and function of clustering of the budding yeast TF Gal4 in its endogenous context. Our results show that Gal4 forms clusters that overlap with the GAL loci. Cluster number, density and size are regulated in different growth conditions by the Gal4-inhibitor Gal80 and Gal4 concentration. Gal4 truncation mutants reveal that Gal4 clustering is facilitated by, but does not completely depend on DNA binding and intrinsically disordered regions. Moreover, we discover that clustering acts as a double-edged sword: self-interactions aid TF recruitment to target genes, but recruited Gal4 molecules that are not DNA-bound do not contribute to, and may even inhibit, transcription activation. We propose that cells need to balance the different effects of TF clustering on target search and transcription activation to facilitate proper gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph V W Meeussen
- Division of Gene Regulation, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Oncode Institute, 1066CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wim Pomp
- Division of Gene Regulation, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Oncode Institute, 1066CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ineke Brouwer
- Division of Gene Regulation, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Oncode Institute, 1066CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wim J de Jonge
- Division of Gene Regulation, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Oncode Institute, 1066CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Heta P Patel
- Division of Gene Regulation, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Oncode Institute, 1066CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tineke L Lenstra
- Division of Gene Regulation, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Oncode Institute, 1066CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Mohanta TK, Yadav D, Khan A, Hashem A, Tabassum B, Khan AL, Abd_Allah EF, Al-Harrasi A. Genomics, molecular and evolutionary perspective of NAC transcription factors. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231425. [PMID: 32275733 PMCID: PMC7147800 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
NAC (NAM, ATAF1,2, and CUC2) transcription factors are one of the largest transcription factor families found in the plants and are involved in diverse developmental and signalling events. Despite the availability of comprehensive genomic information from diverse plant species, the basic genomic, biochemical, and evolutionary details of NAC TFs have not been established. Therefore, NAC TFs family proteins from 160 plant species were analyzed in the current study. Study revealed, Brassica napus (410) encodes highest number and Klebsormidium flaccidum (3) encodes the lowest number of TFs. The study further revealed the presence of NAC TF in the Charophyte algae K. flaccidum. On average, the monocot plants encode higher number (141.20) of NAC TFs compared to the eudicots (125.04), gymnosperm (75), and bryophytes (22.66). Furthermore, our analysis revealed that several NAC TFs are membrane bound and contain monopartite, bipartite, and multipartite nuclear localization signals. NAC TFs were also found to encode several novel chimeric proteins and regulate a complex interactome network. In addition to the presence of NAC domain, several NAC proteins were found to encode other functional signature motifs as well. Relative expression analysis of NAC TFs in A. thaliana revealed root tissue treated with urea and ammonia showed higher level of expression and leaf tissues treated with urea showed lower level of expression. The synonymous codon usage is absent in the NAC TFs and it appears that they have evolved from orthologous ancestors and undergone vivid duplications to give rise to paralogous NAC TFs. The presence of novel chimeric NAC TFs are of particular interest and the presence of chimeric NAC domain with other functional signature motifs in the NAC TF might encode novel functional properties in the plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapan Kumar Mohanta
- Natural and Medicinal Plant Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Dhananjay Yadav
- Dept. of Medical Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Adil Khan
- Natural and Medicinal Plant Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Abeer Hashem
- Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Mycology and Plant Disease Survey Department, Plant Pathology Research Institute, ARC, Giza, Egypt
| | - Baby Tabassum
- Department of Zoology, Toxicology laboratory, Raza P.G. College, Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Abdul Latif Khan
- Natural and Medicinal Plant Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah
- Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural and Medicinal Plant Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
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3
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Elison GL, Xue Y, Song R, Acar M. Insights into Bidirectional Gene Expression Control Using the Canonical GAL1/GAL10 Promoter. Cell Rep 2019; 25:737-748.e4. [PMID: 30332652 PMCID: PMC6263159 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.09.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advances made in understanding the effects of promoter structure on transcriptional activity, limited knowledge exists regarding the role played by chromatin architecture in transcription. Previous work hypothesized that transcription from the bidirectional GAL1/GAL10 promoter is controlled through looping of its UAS region around a nonstandard nucleosome. Here, by editing the GAL1/GAL10 promoter at high resolution, we provide insights into bidirectional expression control. We demonstrate that the first and fourth Gal4 binding sites within the UAS do not functionally contribute to promoter activation. Instead, these sites, along with nearby regulatory regions, contribute to the directional regulation of gene expression. Furthermore, Gal4 binding to the third binding site is critical for gene expression, while binding to the other three sites is not sufficient for transcriptional activation. Because the GAL1/GAL10 UAS can activate gene expression in many eukaryotes, the regulatory mechanism presented is expected to operate broadly across the eukaryotic clade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory L Elison
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, 219 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, 850 West Campus Drive, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Yuan Xue
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, 219 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, 850 West Campus Drive, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Ruijie Song
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, 850 West Campus Drive, West Haven, CT 06516, USA; Interdepartmental Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, 300 George Street, Suite 501, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Murat Acar
- Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, 219 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, 850 West Campus Drive, West Haven, CT 06516, USA; Interdepartmental Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, 300 George Street, Suite 501, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Physics, Yale University, 217 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
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4
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A Precise Genome Editing Method Reveals Insights into the Activity of Eukaryotic Promoters. Cell Rep 2017; 18:275-286. [PMID: 28052256 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the availability of whole-genome sequences for almost all model organisms, making faithful predictions of gene expression levels based solely on the corresponding promoter sequences remains a challenge. Plasmid-based approaches and methods involving selection markers are not ideal due to copy-number fluctuations and their disruptive nature. Here, we present a genome editing method using the CRISPR/Cas9 complex and elucidate insights into the activity of canonical promoters in live yeast cells. The method involves the introduction of a novel cut site into a specific genomic location, followed by the integration of an edited sequence into the same location in a scarless manner. Using this method to edit the GAL1 and GAL80 promoter sequences, we found that the relative positioning of promoter elements was critically important for setting promoter activity levels in single cells. The method can be extended to other organisms to decode genotype-phenotype relationships in various gene networks.
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Tuning the range and stability of multiple phenotypic states with coupled positive–negative feedback loops. Nat Commun 2013; 4:2605. [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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Rapid GAL gene switch of Saccharomyces cerevisiae depends on nuclear Gal3, not nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of Gal3 and Gal80. Genetics 2011; 189:825-36. [PMID: 21890741 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.111.131839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The yeast transcriptional activator Gal4 localizes to UAS(GAL) sites even in the absence of galactose but cannot activate transcription due to an association with the Gal80 protein. By 4 min after galactose addition, Gal4-activated gene transcription ensues. It is well established that this rapid induction arises through a galactose-triggered association between the Gal80 and Gal3 proteins that decreases the association of Gal80 and Gal4. How this happens mechanistically remains unclear. Strikingly different hypotheses prevail concerning the possible roles of nucleocytoplasmic distribution and trafficking of Gal3 and Gal80 and where in the cell the initial Gal3-Gal80 association occurs. Here we tested two conflicting hypotheses by evaluating the subcellular distribution and dynamics of Gal3 and Gal80 with reference to induction kinetics. We determined that the rates of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking for both Gal80 and Gal3 are slow relative to the rate of induction. We find that depletion of the nuclear pool of Gal3 slows the induction kinetics. Thus, nuclear Gal3 is critical for rapid induction. Fluorescence-recovery-after-photobleaching experiments provided data suggesting that the Gal80-Gal4 complex exhibits kinetic stability in the absence of galactose. Finally, we detect Gal3 at the UAS(GAL) only if Gal80 is covalently linked to the DNA-binding domain. Taken altogether, these new findings lead us to propose that a transient interaction of Gal3 with Gal4-associated Gal80 could explain the rapid response of this system. This notion could also explain earlier observations.
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Acar M, Pando BF, Arnold FH, Elowitz MB, van Oudenaarden A. A general mechanism for network-dosage compensation in gene circuits. Science 2010; 329:1656-60. [PMID: 20929850 DOI: 10.1126/science.1190544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Coping with variations in network dosage is crucial for maintaining optimal function in gene networks. We explored how network structure facilitates network-level dosage compensation. By using the yeast galactose network as a model, we combinatorially deleted one of the two copies of its four regulatory genes and found that network activity was robust to the change in network dosage. A mathematical analysis revealed that a two-component genetic circuit with elements of opposite regulatory activity (activator and inhibitor) constitutes a minimal requirement for network-dosage invariance. Specific interaction topologies and a one-to-one interaction stoichiometry between the activating and inhibiting agents were additional essential elements facilitating dosage invariance. This mechanism of network-dosage invariance could represent a general design for gene network structure in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Acar
- Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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8
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Gene activation by dissociation of an inhibitor from a transcriptional activation domain. Mol Cell Biol 2009; 29:5604-10. [PMID: 19651897 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00632-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Gal4 is a prototypical eukaryotic transcriptional activator whose recruitment function is inhibited in the absence of galactose by the Gal80 protein through masking of its transcriptional activation domain (AD). A long-standing nondissociation model posits that galactose-activated Gal3 interacts with Gal4-bound Gal80 at the promoter, yielding a tripartite Gal3-Gal80-Gal4 complex with altered Gal80-Gal4 conformation to enable Gal4 AD activity. Some recent data challenge this model, whereas other recent data support the model. To address this controversy, we imaged fluorescent-protein-tagged Gal80, Gal4, and Gal3 in live cells containing a novel GAL gene array. We find that Gal80 rapidly dissociates from Gal4 in response to galactose. Importantly, this dissociation is Gal3 dependent and concurrent with Gal4-activated GAL gene expression. When galactose-triggered dissociation is followed by galactose depletion, preexisting Gal80 reassociates with Gal4, indicating that sequestration of Gal80 by Gal3 contributes to the observed Gal80-Gal4 dissociation. Moreover, the ratio of nuclear Gal80 to cytoplasmic Gal80 decreases in response to Gal80-Gal3 interaction. Taken together, these and other results provide strong support for a GAL gene switch model wherein Gal80 rapidly dissociates from Gal4 through a mechanism that involves sequestration of Gal80 by galactose-activated Gal3.
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Zacharioudakis I, Gligoris T, Tzamarias D. A yeast catabolic enzyme controls transcriptional memory. Curr Biol 2007; 17:2041-6. [PMID: 17997309 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2007.10.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2007] [Revised: 10/05/2007] [Accepted: 10/15/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
It has been postulated that chromatin modifications can persist through mitosis and meiosis, thereby securing memory of transcriptional states. Whether these chromatin marks can self-propagate in progeny independently of relevant trans-acting factors is an important question in phenomena related to epigenesis. "Adaptive cellular memory" displayed by yeast cells offers a convenient system to address this question. The yeast GAL genes are slowly activated by Gal4 when cells are first exposed to galactose, but their progeny, grown in glucose media, exhibit a fast activation mode upon re-exposure to this sugar. This "galactose memory" persists for several generations and was recently proposed to involve chromatin modifications and perinuclear topology of the GAL genes cluster. Here, we perform a heterokaryon assay demonstrating that this memory does not have a chromatin basis but is maintained by cytoplasmic factor(s) produced upon previous galactose induction. We show that Gal3, the cytoplasmic rate-limiting factor that releases the Gal4 activator, is dispensable for preserving galactose memory. Instead, the important memory determinant is a close Gal3 homolog, the highly expressed Gal1 galactokinase, the residual activity of which preserves memory in progeny cells by rapidly turning on the Gal4 activator upon cells' re-exposure to galactose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Zacharioudakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology-Foundation of Research and Technology, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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10
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Rubio-Texeira M. A comparative analysis of the GAL genetic switch between not-so-distant cousins: Saccharomyces cerevisiae versus Kluyveromyces lactis. FEMS Yeast Res 2005; 5:1115-28. [PMID: 16014343 DOI: 10.1016/j.femsyr.2005.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2005] [Revised: 05/12/2005] [Accepted: 05/18/2005] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their close phylogenetic relationship, Kluyveromyces lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae have adapted their carbon utilization systems to different environments. Although they share identities in the arrangement, sequence and functionality of their GAL gene set, both yeasts have evolved important differences in the GAL genetic switch in accordance to their relative preference for the utilization of galactose as a carbon source. This review provides a comparative overview of the GAL-specific regulatory network in S. cerevisiae and K. lactis, discusses the latest models proposed to explain the transduction of the galactose signal, and describes some of the particularities that both microorganisms display in their regulatory response to different carbon sources. Emphasis is placed on the potential for improved strategies in biotechnological applications using yeasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Rubio-Texeira
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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Acar M, Becskei A, van Oudenaarden A. Enhancement of cellular memory by reducing stochastic transitions. Nature 2005; 435:228-32. [PMID: 15889097 DOI: 10.1038/nature03524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 379] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2005] [Accepted: 03/09/2005] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
On induction of cell differentiation, distinct cell phenotypes are encoded by complex genetic networks. These networks can prevent the reversion of established phenotypes even in the presence of significant fluctuations. Here we explore the key parameters that determine the stability of cellular memory by using the yeast galactose-signalling network as a model system. This network contains multiple nested feedback loops. Of the two positive feedback loops, only the loop mediated by the cytoplasmic signal transducer Gal3p is able to generate two stable expression states with a persistent memory of previous galactose consumption states. The parallel loop mediated by the galactose transporter Gal2p only increases the expression difference between the two states. A negative feedback through the inhibitor Gal80p reduces the strength of the core positive feedback. Despite this, a constitutive increase in the Gal80p concentration tunes the system from having destabilized memory to having persistent memory. A model reveals that fluctuations are trapped more efficiently at higher Gal80p concentrations. Indeed, the rate at which single cells randomly switch back and forth between expression states was reduced. These observations provide a quantitative understanding of the stability and reversibility of cellular differentiation states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Acar
- Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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12
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Abstract
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Gal80 protein has two binding partners: Gal4 and Gal3. In the absence of galactose, Gal80 binds to and inhibits the transcriptional activation domain (AD) of the GAL gene activator, Gal4, preventing GAL gene expression. Galactose triggers an association between Gal3 and Gal80, relieving Gal80 inhibition of Gal4. We selected for GAL80 mutants with impaired capacity of Gal80 to bind to Gal3 or Gal4AD. Most Gal80 variants selected for impaired binding to Gal4AD retained their capacity to bind to Gal3 and to self-associate, whereas most of those selected for impaired binding to Gal3 lost their ability to bind to Gal4AD and self-associate. Thus, some Gal80 amino acids are determinants for both the Gal80-Gal3 association and the Gal80 self-association, and Gal80 self-association may be required for binding to Gal4AD. We propose that the binding of Gal3 to the Gal80 monomer competes with Gal80 self-association, reducing the amount of the Gal80 dimer available for inhibition of Gal4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vepkhia Pilauri
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, 17033, USA
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