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Forkhead-like transcription factors recruit Ndd1 to the chromatin of G2/M-specific promoters

Abstract

Many cell-cycle-specific events are supported by stage-specific gene expression. In budding yeast, at least three different nuclear factors seem to cooperate in the periodic activation of G2/M-specific genes1,2,3. Here we show, by using chromatin immunoprecipitation polymerase chain reaction assays, that a positive regulator, Ndd1, becomes associated with G2/M promoter regions in manner that depends on the stage in cell cycle. Its recruitment depends on a permanent protein–DNA complex consisting of the MADS box protein, Mcm1, and a recently identified partner Fkh2, a forkhead/winged helix related transcription factor4,5. The lethality of Ndd1 depletion is suppressed by fkh2 null mutations, which indicates that Fkh2 may also have a negative regulatory role in the transcription of G2/M-induced RNAs. We conclude that Ndd1–Fkh2 interactions may be the transcriptionally important process targeted by Cdk activity.

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Figure 1: Ndd1 binds specifically to Mcm1-dependent G2/M-specific promoters.
Figure 2: Ndd1 binding requires the ternary complex factor Sff.
Figure 3: Fkh1 and Fkh2 binding to G2/M-specific promoters is independent of the stage in cell cycle, whereas Ndd1 is recruited to chromatin in a cell-cycle-specific manner.
Figure 4: Fkh2 is the main constituent of the Sff-mediated cellular requirement for Ndd1.

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Acknowledgements

We are especially grateful to B. Futcher for providing us with unpublished information about Fkh1 and Fkh2. We thank U. Surana, K. Nasmyth for plasmids and many helpful discussions; M. Galova for sharing materials; C. Zimmer for strain constructions; T. Tanaka and E. Brabec for help in establishing ChIP assays; A. Gartner and P. Alepuz for comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by the Austrian National Bank and by the Austrian Fonds zur Förderung wissenschaftlicher Forschung.

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Correspondence to Gustav Ammerer.

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Koranda, M., Schleiffer, A., Endler, L. et al. Forkhead-like transcription factors recruit Ndd1 to the chromatin of G2/M-specific promoters. Nature 406, 94–98 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35017589

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