1. Cell Biology
  2. Chromosomes and Gene Expression

Set1/COMPASS and Mediator are repurposed to promote epigenetic transcriptional memory

  1. Agustina D'Urso
  2. Yoh-hei Takahashi
  3. Bin Xiong
  4. Jessica Marone
  5. Robert Coukos
  6. Carlo Randise-Hinchliff
  7. Ji-Ping Wang
  8. Ali Shilatifard
  9. Jason H Brickner  Is a corresponding author
  1. Northwestern University, United States
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.16691
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  1. Agustina D'Urso
  2. Yoh-hei Takahashi
  3. Bin Xiong
  4. Jessica Marone
  5. Robert Coukos
  6. Carlo Randise-Hinchliff
  7. Ji-Ping Wang
  8. Ali Shilatifard
  9. Jason H Brickner
(2016)
Set1/COMPASS and Mediator are repurposed to promote epigenetic transcriptional memory
eLife 5:e16691.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.16691
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Abstract

In yeast and humans, previous experiences can lead to epigenetic transcriptional memory: repressed genes that exhibit mitotically heritable changes in chromatin structure and promoter recruitment of poised RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex (RNAPII PIC), which enhances future reactivation. Here, we show that INO1 memory in yeast is initiated by binding of the Sfl1 transcription factor to the cis-acting Memory Recruitment Sequence, targeting INO1 to the nuclear periphery. Memory requires a remodeled form of the Set1/COMPASS methyltransferase lacking Spp1, which dimethylates histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me2). H3K4me2 recruits the SET3C complex, which plays an essential role in maintaining this mark. Finally, while active INO1 is associated with Cdk8- Mediator, during memory, Cdk8+ Mediator recruits poised RNAPII PIC lacking the Kin28 CTD kinase. Aspects of this mechanism are generalizable to yeast and conserved in human cells. Thus, COMPASS and Mediator are repurposed to promote epigenetic transcriptional poising by a highly conserved mechanism.

Article and author information

Author details

  1. Agustina D'Urso

    Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
    Competing interests
    No competing interests declared.

  2. Yoh-hei Takahashi

    Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Chicago, United States
    Competing interests
    No competing interests declared.

  3. Bin Xiong

    Department of Statistics, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
    Competing interests
    No competing interests declared.

  4. Jessica Marone

    Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
    Competing interests
    No competing interests declared.

  5. Robert Coukos

    Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
    Competing interests
    No competing interests declared.

  6. Carlo Randise-Hinchliff

    Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
    Competing interests
    No competing interests declared.

  7. Ji-Ping Wang

    Department of Statistics, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
    Competing interests
    No competing interests declared.

  8. Ali Shilatifard

    Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Chicago, United States
    Competing interests
    Ali Shilatifard, Reviewing editor, eLife.

  9. Jason H Brickner

    Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
    For correspondence
    j-brickner@northwestern.edu
    Competing interests
    No competing interests declared.

Reviewing Editor

  1. Alan G Hinnebusch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, United States

Version history

  1. Received: April 6, 2016
  2. Accepted: June 22, 2016
  3. Accepted Manuscript published: June 23, 2016 (version 1)
  4. Version of Record published: July 19, 2016 (version 2)

Copyright

© 2016, D'Urso et al.

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.

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  1. Agustina D'Urso
  2. Yoh-hei Takahashi
  3. Bin Xiong
  4. Jessica Marone
  5. Robert Coukos
  6. Carlo Randise-Hinchliff
  7. Ji-Ping Wang
  8. Ali Shilatifard
  9. Jason H Brickner
(2016)
Set1/COMPASS and Mediator are repurposed to promote epigenetic transcriptional memory
eLife 5:e16691.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.16691

Share this article

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.16691

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