Heterochromatic gene silencing by activator interference and a transcription elongation barrier

Abstract

Background:Heterochromatic gene silencing inhibits transcription, but the mechanism of silencing is not currently understood. Results:Reconstituted budding yeast heterochromatin disrupts transcriptional coactivator recruitment and RNA polymerase elongation. Conclusion:Yeast silencing operates by multiple mechanisms to achieve stable repression. Significance:Heterochromatic silencing mechanisms have many common aspects that may be conserved from yeast to human. © 2013 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.