Chromosomal Position Effects Are Linked to Sir2-Mediated Variation in Transcriptional Burst Size

• Published in: Biophysical journal Vol. 100; no. 10; pp. L56 - L58
• Main Authors: Batenchuk, Cory, St-Pierre, Simon, Tepliakova, Lioudmila, Adiga, Samyuktha, Szuto, Anna, Kabbani, Nazir, Bell, John C., Baetz, Kristin, Kærn, Mads
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 18.05.2011; Biophysical Society; The Biophysical Society
• Subjects: Biophysical Letter; Chromosomal Position Effects - genetics; Chromosomes; Chromosomes, Fungal - genetics; Eukaryotes; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Genomics; histone deacetylase; Models, Genetic; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism; Sirtuin 2 - genetics; Sirtuin 2 - metabolism; Stochastic Processes; transcription (genetics); Transcription, Genetic
• ISSN: 0006-3495; 1542-0086; 1542-0086
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.04.021

Gene expression noise varies with genomic position and is a driving force in the evolution of chromosome organization. Nevertheless, position effects remain poorly characterized. Here, we present a systematic analysis of chromosomal position effects by characterizing single-cell gene expression from euchromatic positions spanning the length of a eukaryotic chromosome. We demonstrate that position affects gene expression by modulating the size of transcriptional bursts, rather than their frequency, and that the histone deacetylase Sir2 plays a role in this process across the chromosome.