Chromatin remodeller Fun30 Fft3  induces nucleosome disassembly to facilitate RNA polymerase II elongation.
Previous studies have revealed that nucleosomes impede elongation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). Recent observations suggest a role for ATP-dependent chromatin remodellers in modulating this process, but direct in vivo evidence for this is unknown. Here using fission yeast, we identify Fun30 Fft3  as a chromatin remodeller, which localizes at transcribing regions to promote RNAPII transcription. Fun30 Fft3  associates with RNAPII and collaborates with the histone chaperone, FACT, which facilitates RNAPII elongation through chromatin, to induce nucleosome disassembly at transcribing regions during RNAPII transcription. Mutants, resulting in reduced nucleosome-barrier, such as deletion mutants of histones H3/H4 themselves and the genes encoding components of histone deacetylase Clr6 complex II suppress the defects in growth and RNAPII occupancy of cells lacking Fun30 Fft3 . These data suggest that RNAPII utilizes the chromatin remodeller, Fun30 Fft3 , to overcome the nucleosome barrier to transcription elongation.
Lee J, Choi ES, Seo HD, Kang K, Gilmore JM, Florens L, Washburn MP, Choe J, Workman JL, Lee D