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
identify gene promoters that are ready to be transcribed. Nucleosome
remodelling complexes that use energy from ATP to move or displace

Supplement to Nature Publishing Group

GENETICS
'ZCORNGQHEJTQOCVKPTGIWNCVKQPFWTKPIGNQPICVKQP
56'KP[GCUV
%6&
%T[RVKE
VTCPUETKRVKQP

%T[RVKE
VTCPUETKRVKQP
UVCTVUKVG

4RF5

5GV

56'
O40#

#EGV[NCVKQP

+P[GCUVNQUUQHVJGJKUVQPGFGCEGV[NCUGEQORNGZ4RF5QTVJG*-
OGVJ[NVTCPUHGTCUG5GVTGUWNVUKPJ[RGTCEGV[NCVKQPQHVJGEQFKPITGIKQPQH
IGPGUUWEJCU56'2TQOQVGTNKMGTGIKQPUYKVJKPVJGEQFKPITGIKQPCTG
VJGPCDNGVQTGETWKV2QN++CPFEQORQPGPVUQHVJGIGPGTCNVTCPUETKRVKQP
OCEJKPGT[CPFVTCPUETKRVKQPECPDGKPKVKCVGFKPCRRTQRTKCVGN[CVVJGUG
ET[RVKEKPKVKCVKQPUKVGU6JWURTQRGTTGIWNCVKQPQHJKUVQPGCUUGODN[
FKUCUUGODN[CPFOQFKECVKQPUCTGETKVKECNVQEQPVTQNVTCPUETKRVKQPQPC
EJTQOCVKPVGORNCVG

6JGDKPFKPIQHRTQVGKP CEVKXCVQTU VQ

URGEKE&0#TGEQIPKVKQPUGSWGPEGU
KFGPVKGUVCTIGVRTQOQVGTUCUUKVGU
YJGTGVTCPUETKRVKQPYKNNQEEWT

&WTKPIVTCPUETKRVKQPGNQPICVKQPVJG
RJQURJQT[NCVGFTGUKFWGUQPVJG%6&
RTQXKFGDKPFKPIUKVGUHQTEJTQOCVKP
OQFKGTUUWEJCU5'6&
5GVKP
[GCUVCPFKGUYJKEJOGVJ[NCVGU
*-'EKGPVVTCPUETKRVKQP
TGSWKTGUEJTQOCVKPTGOQFGNNKPID[
EQORNGZGUUWEJCU59+50(CPF
45%CPFJKUVQPGEJCRGTQPGUUWEJ
CUVJG(#%6EQORNGZCPF526
0WENGQUQOGUOWUVDGFKURNCEGF
CJGCFQH2QN++CPFTGCUUGODNGF
HQNNQYKPIKVURCUUCIG*KUVQPG
OQFKECVKQPUCTGECTGHWNN[TGIWNCVGF
VQRTGXGPVKPCRRTQRTKCVG
VTCPUETKRVKQPKPKVKCVKQPHTQOYKVJKP
VJGEQFKPITGIKQPQHIGPGU
%6&

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.
'ZCORNGQHCEVKXCVQTFGRGPFGPVTGETWKVOGPV
ICNCEVQUGIGPGKPFWEVKQPKP[GCUV

2TQOQVGTUGNGEVKQP
CPFTGEQIPKVKQP

s)CNCEVQUG
7#5)#.

#EVKXCVQT

#EVKXCVQTUTGETWKVNCTIGOWNVK
UWDWPKVEQCEVKXCVQTUUWEJCU
/GFKCVQTVJGJKUVQPG
CEGV[NVTCPUHGTCUGEQORNGZ5#)#
CPFEJTQOCVKPTGOQFGNNKPI
EQORNGZGU
UWEJCU59+50(
VJCVWUGVJGGPGTI[HTQO#62VQ
OQXGQTFKURNCEGPWENGQUQOGUCV
VJGRTQOQVGT

6CTIGVIGPG
4GEQIPKVKQP
UKVG

)GPGVTCPUETKRVKQP
UVCTVUKVG

6GTOKPCVKQP
CPFTGKPKVKCVKQP
6TCPUETKRVKQP
GNQPICVKQP

*KUVQPG
FGCEGV[NCUG

5'6&

&5+(
JGVGTQFKOGT
QH5RVCPF5RV

%JTQOCVKP
TGOQFGNNGT

6JGVTCPUETKRVKQPE[ENG

#EGV[NCVKQP
*-VTKOGVJ[NCVKQP
)#(

52QP
%6&

0'.(

2TQOQVGTRTQZKOCN
RCWUGF2QN++

2QUVJGCVUJQEM
*5(

2#42

52
52

)#(

26'(D

#UGEQPFUGTKGUQH
RJQURJQT[NCVKQPGXGPVU
ECVCN[UGFD[%&-
YKVJKP26'(DCTG
TGSWKTGFVQTGNGCUG2QN++
HTQOVJKURCWUGFUVCVG
KPVQRTQFWEVKXG
VTCPUETKRVKQPGNQPICVKQP
26'(DRJQURJQT[NCVGU
VJG52QHVJG%6&CU
YGNNCUTGUKFWGUQP0'.(
CPF&5+(

2QN++

52
52

6JGEGPVTCNE[ENGUJQYUUQOGQH
VJGOCKPUVGRUKPVTCPUETKRVKQP#V
FKGTGPVIGPGUFKGTGPVUVCIGU|QH
VJKUE[ENGECPDGVJGMG[TGIWNCVQT[

TCVGFGVGTOKPKPIUVGRU/CP[
CURGEVUCTGEQPUGTXGFCOQPI
URGEKGU
KPVJGEGPVTCNRCPGNUJWOCP
PQOGPENCVWTGKUOCKPN[WUGF1PN[C
UGNGEVKQPQHRTQVGKPUCPFEJTQOCVKP
OQFKECVKQPUCTGUJQYPVQ
KNNWUVTCVGVJGUGSWGPEGQHGXGPVU
6JGUKFGRCPGNUUJQYGZCORNGU
QHRCTVKEWNCTIGPGUQTRTQXKFG
OQTGFGVCKNHQTEGTVCKPUVCIGU

5#)#
59+50(

)GPG
VTCPUETKRVKQP
UVCTVUKVG

6TCPUETKRVKQP
GNQPICVKQP

2JQURJQT[NCVKQP

#EVKXCVQTFGRGPFGPV
/GFKCVQTCPF
59+50(TGETWKVOGPV

/GFKCVQT

2TGKPKVKCVKQP
EQORNGZ
HQTOCVKQP

2TGKPKVKCVKQPEQORNGZHQTOCVKQP


2TQOQVGT
ENGCTCPEG

2TQOQVGT
RTQZKOCNRCWUKPI

5#)#

59+50(

4GNGCUGHTQO
RTQOQVGT
RTQZKOCN
RCWUKPI

#EVKXCVQTFGRGPFGPV
5#)#TGETWKVOGPV

5#)#

26'(D

4GNGCUGHTQORTQOQVGT
RTQZKOCNRCWUKPI

)CNCEVQUG

#EGV[NCVKQP

/GFKCVQT

O40#

2JQURJQT[NCVKQP

)CN

)CN )CN )#.

#EVKXCVQTFGRGPFGPV
TGETWKVOGPVQHEQCEVKXCVQTU

'ZCORNGQHTGIWNCVKQPD[RQN[OGTCUGRCWUKPI
JGCVUJQEMIGPGUKP&TQUQRJKNCOGNCPQICUVGT
2TGJGCVUJQEM

%[VQRNCUO

2TG
KPKVKCVKQP
EQORNGZ

6QIGVJGTEJTQOCVKP
TGOQFGNNGTUCPF
EQCEVKXCVQTUHCEKNKVCVG
TGETWKVOGPVQH2QN++CPF
VJGIGPGTCNVTCPUETKRVKQP
HCEVQTU
)6(UVQHQTO
VJGRTGKPKVKCVKQP
EQORNGZQPVJG
RTQOQVGT
UGGENQUGWR
1TCPIGPWENGQUQOG
KPFKECVGUOQXGOGPV
QTFKURNCEGOGPV

6JGRTGKPKVKCVKQPEQORNGZRTKQTVQRTQOQVGTENGCTCPEG
6(++&
6(++'

2QN++

2QN++

&0#

*GCVUJQEMIGPGUKP&TQUQRJKNCOGNCPQICUVGTCTGTCVGNKOKVGFFWTKPIGCTN[
GNQPICVKQP2TKQTVQJGCVUJQEM)#(EQCEVKXCVQTUCPFVJG)6(UCTGDQWPF
CV*URCPF2QN++KURTGUGPVCVVJGRTQOQVGTRTQZKOCNRCWUGUKVGYJGTGKV
UKVUKPCRQKUGFUVCVGTGCF[VQTGUWOGRTQFWEVKXGGNQPICVKQP*GCVUJQEM
KPFWEGUVTKOGTK\CVKQPQHVJGVTCPUETKRVKQPHCEVQT*5(YJKEJVJGPDKPFU
VQVJGRTQOQVGTQH*UR$KPFKPIQH*5(KUTGSWKTGFDWVKUPQVUWEKGPVVQ
TGETWKVVJGCEVKXCVKPIMKPCUG26'(DYJKEJRJQURJQT[NCVGUVJGKPJKDKVQT[
HCEVQTU0'.(CPF&5+(CUYGNNCUUGTKPGQHVJG%6&TGUWNVKPIKPTGNGCUGQH
2QN++KPVQRTQFWEVKXGVTCPUETKRVKQPGNQPICVKQP2#42ECVCN[UGUHQTOCVKQP
QH#&2TKDQUGRQN[OGTUCPFCNQPIYKVJ*5(CPF)#(KUTGSWKTGFHQT
PWENGQUQOGNQUUCV*URHQNNQYKPIJGCVUJQEM0WENGQUQOGNQUURTGEGGFU
VJGRCUUCIGQH2QN++CPFHCEKNKVCVGUIGPGCEVKXCVKQP

Abcam tools for advancing epigenetics

Abcam is a producer and distributor of high quality researchgrade antibodies and associated proteomics research products;
antibodies are essential tools for life scientists that enable them
to analyze components of living cells at the molecular level.
Our catalogue of over 78,000 products includes antibodies,
proteins, peptides, lysates, immunoassays, kits and more.

2QN++

2QN++
O40#

#VUQOGIGPGUCGT2QN++VTCPUETKDGUCUJQTVFKUVCPEGKPVQ
VJGIGPGKVRCWUGUCVCTGIKQPQH&0#MPQYPCUVJG
RTQOQVGTRTQZKOCNRCWUGUKVG2QN++KURTGXGPVGFHTQO
OQXKPIHQTYCTFHTQOVJKUTGIKQPD[KPJKDKVQT[HCEVQTUUWEJ
CU0'.(CPF&5+(
0QVG0'.(KUPQVRTGUGPVKP[GCUV

We have more than 30,000 products in the epigenetics and

nuclear signaling field, including:
Chromatin remodelling
Chromosome structure
RNA/DNA
Ubiquitin signaling

Transcription
DNA methylation
Chromatin modifying enzymes
DNA damage

Learn more at www.abcam.com/epigenetics.

&5+( 0'.(

Quality and honesty are our top priorities. Our Abpromise

offers 100% support of any product purchased from
Abcam or one of our authorized distributors. If our
products do not perform as described on the datasheet,
let us know so that we can help you or offer a
replacement or refund.
Visit our website today and see for yourself:
www.abcam.com.

2JQURJQT[NCVKQP

52
O40#

:2$

6$2

52

%6&

6(++* 6(++( 6(++$

%6&
2TQOQVGT
RTQZKOCN
RCWUGF2QN++

6JG)CNIGPGUKP[GCUVJCXG
DGGPGZVGPUKXGN[UVWFKGFCPF
CTGKNNWUVTCVKXGQHVJGTQNG
QHCEVKXCVQTUKPKPKVKCVKPI
VTCPUETKRVKQP6JGRTGUGPEGQH
ICNCEVQUGTGNGCUGUVJGCEVKXCVQT
)CNHTQOKVUTGRTGUUQT)CN
YJKEJDGEQOGUUGSWGUVGTGFKP
VJGE[VQRNCUOD[)CN)CN
TGETWKVU5#)#HQNNQYGFD[
/GFKCVQTCPFVJGEJTQOCVKP
TGOQFGNNGT59+50(*KUVQPG
CEGV[NCVKQPD[5#)#UVKOWNCVGU
VJGTGOQFGNNKPIQHRTQOQVGT
PWENGQUQOGUD[59+50(
QTCPIG
PWENGUQOGKPFKECVGUOQXGOGPV
TGOQFGNNKPIGPJCPEGUVJG
MKPGVKEUQHCEVKXCVKQPCV)#.
#VQVJGTIGPGUEJTQOCVKP
TGOQFGNNKPIOC[DGC
TGSWKTGOGPVHQTCEVKXCVKQP
#V)#.5#)#CPF/GFKCVQT
YQTMVQIGVJGTVQTGETWKV2QN++
CPFVJGIGPGTCNVTCPUETKRVKQP
HCEVQTUVQVJGRTQOQVGTYJGTG
VJGRTGKPKVKCVKQPEQORNGZ
HQTOU+PVJKUGZCORNG
TGETWKVOGPVQH2QN++CPF
RTGKPKVKCVKQPEQORNGZHQTOCVKQP
CTGVJGTCVGNKOKVKPIUVGRUFWTKPI
VTCPUETKRVKQPCEVKXCVKQP

%&-

2JQURJQT[NCVKQP
#GTVJGRTGKPKVKCVKQPEQORNGZJCUHQTOGF%&-YKVJKP6(++*
RJQURJQT[NCVGUVJGUGTKPGRQUKVKQP
52YKVJKPVJGECTDQZ[VGTOKPCN
FQOCKP
%6&QHVJGNCTIGUVUWDWPKVQH2QN++#TQWPFVJGUCOGVKOGVJG
&0#JGNKECUG:2$WPYKPFUsDCUGUQH&0#CVVJGRTQOQVGTVQ
KPVTQFWEGCUKPINGUVTCPFGFVGORNCVGKPVQVJGCEVKXGUKVGQH2QN++
UGG
ENQUGWRCDQXG6TCPUETKRVKQPDGIKPUCU2QN++FKUUQEKCVGUHTQOOCP[QH
VJGIGPGTCNVTCPUETKRVKQPHCEVQTUENGCTUVJGRTQOQVGTCPFDGIKPUVQ
OCMG40#&WTKPIRTGKPKVKCVKQPEQORNGZHQTOCVKQPCPFRTQOQVGT
ENGCTCPEGUGXGTCNFKGTGPVJKUVQPGOQFKECVKQPUCTGFGRQUKVGFQP
PWENGQUQOGUCVVJGRTQOQVGTKPENWFKPI*-VTKOGVJ[NCVKQPCPF*$
OQPQWDKSWKV[NCVKQP
UGGUKFGRCPGN

5GSWGPVKCNJKUVQPGOQFKECVKQPUQEEWTCVRTQOQVGTU
*$WDKSWKV[NCVKQP
*-VTKOGVJ[NCVKQP
$WT
5GV
2+%
%1/2#55

$TG 4CF

2#(EQORNGZ

*KUVQPG*N[UKPG
*-
VTKOGVJ[NCVKQPKUCUUQEKCVGFYKVJ
CEVKXGVTCPUETKRVKQP+P[GCUV
VJKUOCTMKUFGRQUKVGFD[5GV

YKVJKP%1/2#55CPFTGSWKTGU
RTKQTWDKSWKV[NCVKQPQHJKUVQPG
*$D[4CFCPF$TG(QT
UKORNKEKV[VJGUGRTQVGKPUCTG
PQVUJQYPKPQVJGTRCPGNU

References

Abbreviations

Acknowledgements

Fuda, N. J., Ardehali, M. B. & Lis, J. T. Defining mechanisms that regulate RNA
polymerase II transcription in vivo. Nature 461, 186192 (2009) | Weake, V. M. &
Workman, J. L. Inducible gene expression: diverse regulatory mechanisms. Nature
Rev. Genet. 11, 426437 (2010) | Kornberg, R. D. The molecular basis of eukaryotic
transcription. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 104, 1295512961 (2007) | Orphanides, G.
& Reinberg, D. A unified theory of gene expression. Cell 108, 439451 (2002) |
Ptashne, M. & Gann, A. Transcriptional activation by recruitment. Nature 386,
569577 (1997) | Roeder, R. G. Transcriptional regulation and the role of diverse
coactivators in animal cells. FEBS Lett. 579, 909915 (2005)

CDK, cell division protein kinase; COMPASS, complex

proteins associated with Set1; DSIF, DRB sensitivity-inducing
factor; GAF, GAGA factor; HSF, heat shock factor; Hsp70,
heat shock protein 70; NELF, negative elongation factor;
PARP, poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase; P-TEFb, positive
transcription elongation factor b; SWI/SNF, switch/sucrose
non-fermentable; TBP, TATA box binding protein; TFII,
transcription factor II; Tra1, transcription associated protein 1;
UAS, upstream activating sequence

The authors are at the Stowers Institute for Medical

Research, Kansas City, Missouri, USA. They thank members
of the Workman laboratory for helpful comments and
suggestions during preparation of this poster.
Edited by Mary Muers; copyedited by Lewis Packwood;
designed by Patrick Morgan.
2011 Nature Publishing Group.
http://www.nature.com/nrg/posters/remodelling