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Chromatin remodeling: insights and intrigue from single-molecule studies

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology volume 14, pages 989–996 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Chromatin remodelers are ATP-hydrolyzing machines specialized to restructure, mobilize or eject nucleosomes, allowing regulated exposure of DNA in chromatin. Recently, remodelers have been analyzed using single-molecule techniques in real time, revealing them to be complex DNA-pumping machines. The results both support and challenge aspects of current models of remodeling, supporting the idea that the remodeler translocates or pumps DNA loops into and around the nucleosome, while also challenging earlier concepts about loop formation, the character of the loop and how it propagates. Several complex behaviors were observed, such as reverse translocation and long translocation bursts of the remodeler, without appreciable DNA twist. This review presents and discusses revised models for nucleosome sliding and ejection that integrate this new information with the earlier biochemical studies.

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Figure 1: Modes of nucleosome remodeling.

Katie Ris-Vicari

Figure 2: Single-molecule methods for observing remodeler translocation.
Figure 3: Models for DNA movement around nucleosomes.

Katie Ris-Vicari

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Acknowledgements

I thank R. Viswanathan for considerable help in making figures, and J. Wittmeyer for helpful discussions and comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Brad R. Cairns is in the Department of Oncological Sciences and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA. brad.cairns@hci.utah.edu,

    Bradley R Cairns

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Cairns, B. Chromatin remodeling: insights and intrigue from single-molecule studies. Nat Struct Mol Biol 14, 989–996 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb1333

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