Concentration- and chromosome-organization-dependent regulator unbinding from DNA for transcription regulation in living cells

Tai-Yen Chen, Ace George Santiago, Won Jung, Łukasz Krzemiński, Feng Yang, Danya J. Martell, John D. Helmann and Peng Chen ()
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Tai-Yen Chen: Cornell University
Ace George Santiago: Cornell University
Won Jung: Cornell University
Łukasz Krzemiński: Cornell University
Feng Yang: Cornell University
Danya J. Martell: Cornell University
John D. Helmann: Cornell University
Peng Chen: Cornell University

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Binding and unbinding of transcription regulators at operator sites constitute a primary mechanism for gene regulation. While many cellular factors are known to regulate their binding, little is known on how cells can modulate their unbinding for regulation. Using nanometer-precision single-molecule tracking, we study the unbinding kinetics from DNA of two metal-sensing transcription regulators in living Escherichia coli cells. We find that they show unusual concentration-dependent unbinding kinetics from chromosomal recognition sites in both their apo and holo forms. Unexpectedly, their unbinding kinetics further varies with the extent of chromosome condensation, and more surprisingly, varies in opposite ways for their apo-repressor versus holo-activator forms. These findings suggest likely broadly relevant mechanisms for facile switching between transcription activation and deactivation in vivo and in coordinating transcription regulation of resistance genes with the cell cycle.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8445

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