Analysis abstract
Nature Genetics 40, 141 - 147 (2008)
Published online: 29 January 2008 | doi:10.1038/ng.2007.58
Epigenetic regulation and the variability of gene expression
Jung Kyoon Choi1 & Young-Joon Kim1,2
Abstract
We characterized the genetic variability of gene expression in terms of trans and cis variability for each yeast transcript. Genes that are highly regulated by nucleosomes showed a high degree of trans variability. From the expression profiles of mutants for various chromatin modifiers, we found that trans-variable genes are distinctly regulated at the chromatin level. The effect of chromatin regulators was highly significant, even when compared with that of transcription factors. The DNA-binding activities of transcription factors had a low influence on trans variability. In the case of the basal transcription factor TBP and TBP-associated factor TAF1, expression variability was coupled with the histone acetyltransferase activities of TAF1 and other factors, rather than with the binding of TBP to DNA. Additionally, we found that the correlation of TATA-box presence and expression variability could be explained in terms of chromatin regulation. The lack of activating histone modifications may subject TATA-containing promoters to chromatin regulation processes. Our results propose that epigenetic regulation has a central role in the variation and evolution of gene expression.
- Genome Regulation Center, Yonsei University, 134 Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
- Department of Biochemistry, Yonsei University, 134 Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
Correspondence to: Young-Joon Kim1,2 e-mail: yjkim@yonsei.ac.kr
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.
NEWS AND VIEWS
Repairing nucleosomes during transcriptionNature Structural Biology News and Views (01 Nov 2003)
New evidence that DNA encodes its packagingNature Genetics News and Views (01 Oct 2006)
RESEARCH
Identification of IGFBP-6 as an effector of the tumor suppressor activity of SEMA3BOncogene Original Article
Hyperglycemia Enhances DNA Fragmentation After Transient Cerebral IschemiaJournal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism Original Article
See all 27 matches for Research
