Regulation of histone modification and cryptic transcription by the Bur1 and Paf1 complexes.

The Bur1-Bur2 and Paf1 complexes function during transcription elongation and affect histone modifications. Here we describe new roles for Bur1-Bur2 and the Paf1 complex. We find that histone H3 K36 tri-methylation requires specific components of the Paf1 complex and that K36 tri-methylation is more strongly affected at the 5' ends of genes in paf1delta and bur2delta strains in parallel with increased acetylation of histones H3 and H4.

Chromatin remodeling protein Chd1 interacts with transcription elongation factors and localizes to transcribed genes.

Transcription in eukaryotes is influenced by the chromatin state of the template, and chromatin remodeling factors have well-documented roles in regulating transcription initiation by RNA polymerase (pol) II. Chromatin also influences transcription elongation; however, little is known about the role of chromatin remodeling factors in this process. Here, we present evidence that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromatin remodeling factor Chd1 functions during transcription elongation.

The Paf1 complex physically and functionally associates with transcription elongation factors in vivo.

We are using biochemical and genetic approaches to study Rtf1 and the Spt4-Spt5 complex, which independently have been implicated in transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II. Here, we report a remarkable convergence of these studies. First, we purified Rtf1 and its associated yeast proteins.