Work

Effects of triplet repeat sequences on nucleosome positioning and gene expression in yeast minichromosomes

Year: 2002

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: Triplet repeat sequences that cause human hereditary diseases can form a variety of DNA conformations. Since DNA structures act as determinants of chromatin structure, chromatin may be involved in mechanisms of these diseases. To address this issue, we examined effects of triplet repeat sequences on chromatin structure and gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show here that (1) (CTG)12 promotes nucleosome formation, (2) (CGG)12 disrupts an array of positioned nucleosomes, and (3) (GAA)12 has little effect on nucleosome formation. Also, we show that insertion of (CGG)12 increases gene expression of a UAS-less promoter about 10-fold, while (CTG)12 and (GAA)12 have no effect. Thus, expansion of triplet repeat sequences may cause improper expression of disease related genes, through their effects on chromatin structure.

Source: Nucleic Acids Symposium Series

DOI: 10.1093/nass/2.1.231

Authors: N. Tomita, R. Fujita, D. Kurihara, H. Shindo, R. D. Wells, M. Shimizu

Institutions: Meisei University, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University

Language: English

Topic: Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze