Mot1 activates and represses transcription by direct, ATPase-dependent mechanisms

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Mar 5;99(5):2666-71. doi: 10.1073/pnas.052397899.

Abstract

Mot1 is an essential yeast Snf2/Swi2-related ATPase that exerts both positive and negative effects on gene expression. In vitro, Mot1 can disrupt TATA-binding protein-DNA complexes in an ATP-dependent reaction. This activity can explain Mot1-mediated transcriptional repression, but how Mot1 activates transcription is unknown. We demonstrate that, remarkably, Mot1 is localized in vivo to promoters for both Mot1-repressed and Mot1-activated genes. Moreover, Mot1 ATPase activity is required for both activation and repression of gene activity. These findings suggest a novel function for the Mot1 ATPase at activated genes, perhaps involving ATP-driven reorganization of the preinitiation complex. Mot1 regulates the expression of approximately 3% of yeast genes in cells grown in rich medium. Most of these genes are repressed by Mot1, consistent with Mot1's ATP-dependent TATA-binding protein-DNA dissociating activity. Additionally, approximately 77% of the Mot1-repressed genes are involved in the diauxic shift, stress response, mating, or sporulation. The gene sets controlled by NC2 and Srb10 are strongly correlated with the Mot1-controlled set, suggesting that these factors cooperate in transcriptional control on a global scale.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism*
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • DNA Helicases / metabolism*
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
  • Genes, Fungal
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors*
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • MOT1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • DNA Helicases