Evidence that Swi/Snf directly represses transcription in S. cerevisiae.

Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

Many studies have established that the Swi/Snf family of chromatin-remodeling complexes activate transcription. Recent reports have suggested the possibility that these complexes can also repress transcription. We now present chromatin immunoprecipitation evidence that the Swi/Snf complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae directly represses transcription of the SER3 gene. Consistent with its role in nucleosome remodeling, Swi/Snf controls the chromatin structure of the SER3 promoter. However, in striking contrast to activation by Swi/Snf, which requires most Swi/Snf subunits, repression by Swi/Snf at SER3 is dependent primarily on one Swi/Snf component, Snf2. These results show distinct differences in the requirements for Swi/Snf components in transcriptional activation and repression.

PMID: 12208846 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC186664