Antisense-mediated repression of SAGA-dependent genes involves the HIR histone chaperone.

Eukaryotic genomes are pervasively transcribed by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), and transcription of long non-coding RNAs often overlaps with coding gene promoters. This might lead to coding gene repression in a process named Transcription Interference (TI). In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, TI is mainly driven by antisense non-coding transcription and occurs through re-shaping of promoter Nucleosome-Depleted Regions (NDRs).

The chromatin remodeling Isw1a complex is regulated by SUMOylation.

The ISWI class of proteins consists of a family of chromatin remodeling ATPases that is ubiquitous in eukaryotes and predominantly functions to slide nucleosomes laterally. The yeast Isw1 partners with several non-essential alternative subunits - Ioc2, Ioc3, or Ioc4 - to form two distinct complexes Isw1a and Isw1b. Besides its ATPase domain, Isw1 presents a C-terminal region formed by HAND, SANT, and SLIDE domains responsible for interaction with the Ioc proteins and optimal association of Isw1 to chromatin.

Trans-acting antisense RNAs mediate transcriptional gene cosuppression in S. cerevisiae.

Homology-dependent gene silencing, a phenomenon described as cosuppression in plants, depends on siRNAs. We provide evidence that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is missing the RNAi machinery, protein coding gene cosuppression exists. Indeed, introduction of an additional copy of PHO84 on a plasmid or within the genome results in the cosilencing of both the transgene and the endogenous gene.