PhpC transcription factor infiltrates heterochromatin to generate cryptic intron-containing transcripts crucial for small RNA production.

The assembly of repressive heterochromatin in eukaryotic genomes is crucial for silencing lineage-inappropriate genes and repetitive DNA elements. Paradoxically, transcription of repetitive elements within constitutive heterochromatin domains is required for RNA-based mechanisms, such as the RNAi pathway, to target heterochromatin assembly proteins. However, the mechanism by which heterochromatic repeats are transcribed has been unclear.

Interplay between transcriptional regulators and the SAGA chromatin modifying complex fine-tune iron homeostasis.

The human fungal pathogen Candida albicans responds to iron deprivation by a global transcriptome reconfiguration known to be controlled by the transcriptional regulators Hap43 (also known as Cap2), Sef1, and the trimeric Hap2-Hap3-Hap5 complex. However, the relative roles of these regulators are not known. To dissect this system, we focused on the FRP1 and ACO1 genes, which are induced and repressed, respectively, under iron deprivation conditions.

Multiple Evolutionarily Conserved Domains of Cap2 Are Required for Promoter Recruitment and Iron Homeostasis Gene Regulation.

Iron is required for growth and metabolism by virtually all organisms. The human fungal pathogen has evolved multiple strategies to acquire iron. The Cap2/Hap43 transcriptional regulator, essential for robust virulence of , controls iron homeostasis gene expression by promoter binding and repression of iron utilization genes.