Spn1 Maintains Nucleosome Organization at Transcription End Sites.
- 1NGS Analysis Center Biology and Preclinical Medicine, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.
Abstract
Background/objectives
Transcription by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) occurs within chromatin and requires continuous disassembly and reassembly of nucleosomes. Histone chaperones associate with RNAPII, facilitate transcription, and maintain nucleosome organization. This study investigated the role of the conserved histone chaperone Spn1 in coordinating chromatin organization with transcription termination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Methods
Spn1 interacts with elongating RNAPII via Spt6 and its function was examined by reanalyzing published MNase-seq, RNAPII ChIP-seq, NET-seq, and TSS-seq datasets.Results
Mutations that disrupt the Spn1-Spt6 interaction at nonpermissive temperatures caused a pronounced loss of nucleosome array regularity at polyadenylation (pA) sites, whereas nucleosome organization around transcription start sites was less affected. These mutants also showed shorter nucleosome repeat lengths at gene ends. RNAPII accumulated near pA sites and displayed increased termination-proximal stalling, consistent with impaired transcription termination. In addition, transcription of neighboring downstream genes in tandem orientation was preferentially reduced, suggesting interference between termination of the upstream gene and initiation at the neighboring promoter.Conclusions
Together, these results identify Spn1 as an important determinant of chromatin organization at gene ends and suggest that it helps maintain transcriptional fidelity across closely spaced genes.
Related
- Hepatocyte nuclear factor-1β recruits the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase complex to activate gene transcription
- FoxO1 and HNF1α cooperatively remodel nucleosome architecture and mechanical stability to activate transcription
- Reconstitution of +1 nucleosome transcription reveals coordinated functions of SAGA, Mediator, and TFIIH
- Active Nucleosome Sliding, Eviction, and Reassembly Dynamics Can Regulate Chromatin Condensate Organization
- Structural basis of nucleosome remodeling by archaeal RNA polymerase during transcription elongation
BibTeX
@article{schwartz2026spn1,
title = {{Spn1 Maintains Nucleosome Organization at Transcription End Sites.}},
author = {Uwe Schwartz},
journal = {Epigenomes},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/epigenomes10040061},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42924720},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Spn1 Maintains Nucleosome Organization at Transcription End Sites.
AU - Uwe Schwartz
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Epigenomes
DO - 10.3390/epigenomes10040061
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42924720
AB - Background/objectives Transcription by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) occurs within chromatin and requires continuous disassembly and reassembly of nucleosomes. Histone chaperones associate with RNAPII, facilitate transcription, and maintain nucleosome organization. This study investigated the role of the conserved histone chaperone Spn1 in coordinating chromatin organization with transcription termination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Methods Spn1 interacts with elongating RNAPII via Spt6 and its function was examined by reanalyzing published MNase-seq, RNAPII ChIP-seq, NET-seq, and TSS-seq datasets.Results Mutations that disrupt the Spn1-Spt6 interaction at nonpermissive temperatures caused a pronounced loss of nucleosome array regularity at polyadenylation (pA) sites, whereas nucleosome organization around transcription start sites was less affected. These mutants also showed shorter nucleosome repeat lengths at gene ends. RNAPII accumulated near pA sites and displayed increased termination-proximal stalling, consistent with impaired transcription termination. In addition, transcription of neighboring downstream genes in tandem orientation was preferentially reduced, suggesting interference between termination of the upstream gene and initiation at the neighboring promoter.Conclusions Together, these results identify Spn1 as an important determinant of chromatin organization at gene ends and suggest that it helps maintain transcriptional fidelity across closely spaced genes.
SN - 2075-4655
ER -