GCN5, a yeast transcriptional coactivator, induces chromatin reconfiguration of HIS3 promoter in vivo

Gcn5p, the nuclear histone acetyltransferase (HAT A), is a component of the multiprotein adaptor complex, ADA. Its role as a transcriptional coactivator is required for full induction of most of the genes regulated by GCN4. In this study we present experimental evidence demonstrating that, during gene activation, the nuclease sensitive region of HIS3 promoter, harbouring the poly (dA:dT) and the GCN4 binding site, is invaded by nucleosomes in a gcn5 disrupted strain. These data demonstrate, for the first time, that Gcn5p affects directly the chromatin organization of a chromosomal gene during its transcriptional activation.