Synergistic action of RNA polymerases in overcoming the nucleosomal barrier

Jing Jin, Lu Bai, Daniel S. Johnson, Robert M. Fulbright, Maria L. Kireeva, Mikhail Kashlev, Michelle D. Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

103 Scopus citations

Abstract

During gene expression, RNA polymerase (RNAP) encounters a major barrier at a nucleosome and yet must access the nucleosomal DNA. Previous in vivo evidence has suggested that multiple RNAPs might increase transcription efficiency through nucleosomes. Here we have quantitatively investigated this hypothesis using Escherichia coli RNAP as a model system by directly monitoring its location on the DNA via a single-molecule DNA-unzipping technique. When an RNAP encountered a nucleosome, it paused with a distinctive 10-base pair periodicity and backtracked by ∼10-15 base pairs. When two RNAPs elongate in close proximity, the trailing RNAP apparently assists in the leading RNAP's elongation, reducing its backtracking and enhancing its transcription through a nucleosome by a factor of 5. Taken together, our data indicate that histone-DNA interactions dictate RNAP pausing behavior, and alleviation of nucleosome-induced backtracking by multiple polymerases may prove to be a mechanism for overcoming the nucleosomal barrier in vivo.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)745-752
Number of pages8
JournalNature Structural and Molecular Biology
Volume17
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2010

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Structural Biology
  • Molecular Biology

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