Stable incorporation of sequence specific repressors Ash1 and Ume6 into the Rpd3L complex

Histone deacetylation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rpd3 represses genes regulated by the Ash1 and Ume6 DNA-binding proteins. Rpd3 exists in a small 0.6 MDa (Rpd3S) and large 1.2 MDa (Rpd3L) corepressor complex. In this report, we identify by mass spectrometry and MudPIT the subunits of the Rpd3L complex. These included Rpd3, Sds3, Pho23, Dep1, Rxt2, Sin3, Ash1, Ume1, Sap30, Cti6, Rxt3 and Ume6. Dep1 and Sds3, unique components of Rpd3L, were required for Rpd3L integrity and HDAC activity. Similar to RPD3, deletion of DEP1 enhanced telomeric silencing and derepressed INO1. Two sequence-specific repressors, Ash1 and Ume6, were stably associated with Rpd3L. While both of these proteins localized to the INO1 and HO promoters, the repression of these genes were dependent only on Ume6 and Ash1, respectively. Thus, the Rpd3L complex is directly recruited to specific promoters through multiple integral DNA-binding proteins.     

Direct role for the Rpd3 complex in transcriptional induction of the anaerobic DAN/TIR genes in yeast

Saccharomyces cerevisiae adapts to hypoxia by expressing a large group of "anaerobic" genes. Among these, the eight DAN/TIR genes are regulated by the repressors Rox1 and Mot3 and the activator Upc2/Mox4. In attempting to identify factors recruited by the DNA binding repressor Mot3 to enhance repression of the DAN/TIR genes, we found that the histone deacetylase and global repressor complex, Rpd3-Sin3-Sap30, was not required for repression. Strikingly, the complex was instead required for activation. In addition, the histone H3 and H4 amino termini, which are targets of Rpd3, were also required for DAN1 expression. Epistasis tests demonstrated that the Rpd3 complex is not required in the absence of the repressor Mot3. Furthermore, the Rpd3 complex was required for normal function and stable binding of the activator Upc2 at the DAN1 promoter. Moreover, the Swi/Snf chromatin remodeling complex was strongly required for activation of DAN1, and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed an Rpd3-dependent reduction in DAN1 promoter-associated nucleosomes upon induction. Taken together, these data provide evidence that during anaerobiosis, the Rpd3 complex acts at the DAN1 promoter to antagonize the chromatin-mediated repression caused by Mot3 and Rox1 and that chromatin remodeling by Swi/Snf is necessary for normal expression.     

Recruitment of rpd3 to the telomere depends on the protein arginine methyltransferase hmt1

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the establishment and maintenance of silent chromatin at the telomere requires a delicate balance between opposing activities of histone modifying enzymes. Previously, we demonstrated that the protein arginine methyltransferase Hmt1 plays a role in the formation of yeast silent chromatin. To better understand the nature of the Hmt1 interactions that contribute to this phenomenon, we carried out a systematic reverse genetic screen using a null allele of HMT1 and the synthetic genetic array (SGA) methodology. This screen revealed interactions between HMT1 and genes encoding components of the histone deacetylase complex Rpd3L (large). A double mutant carrying both RPD3 and HMT1 deletions display increased telomeric silencing and Sir2 occupancy at the telomeric boundary regions, when comparing to a single mutant carrying Hmt1-deletion only. However, the dual rpd3/hmt1-null mutant behaves like the rpd3-null single mutant with respect to silencing behavior, indicating that RPD3 is epistatic to HMT1. Mutants lacking either Hmt1 or its catalytic activity display an increase in the recruitment of histone deacetylase Rpd3 to the telomeric boundary regions. Moreover, in such loss-of-function mutants the levels of acetylated H4K5, which is a substrate of Rpd3, are altered at the telomeric boundary regions. In contrast, the level of acetylated H4K16, a target of the histone deacetylase Sir2, was increased in these regions. Interestingly, mutants lacking either Rpd3 or Sir2 display various levels of reduction in dimethylated H4R3 at these telomeric boundary regions. Together, these data provide insight into the mechanism whereby Hmt1 promotes the proper establishment and maintenance of silent chromatin at the telomeres.