Mechanisms of chromatin remodeler target search and nucleosome mobilization

Chromatin remodelers play a pivotal role in gene regulation by shaping the physical structure of DNA around promoters and regulatory elements. While their biochemical activities are well studied, existing analytical methods fall short in capturing their dynamic activity and the mechanisms by which they search for and engage their targets. This limitation hinders deeper functional assessment, which is essential to the drug development process.

This webcast will explore how individual remodeler proteins including SWR1, RSC, and ISW2 navigate the chromatin landscape by scanning, sliding or hopping to locate and reposition nucleosomes, ultimately influencing access to DNA by transcription machinery. It will feature recent discoveries using single- and dual-color single-molecule tracking with optical tweezers to investigate the one-dimensional (1D) diffusion behaviors of three conserved yeast remodelers—SWR1, RSC, and ISW2—on DNA and sparse nucleosome arrays.

The findings reveal a unified framework for how chromatin remodelers navigate chromatin landscapes to regulate promoter accessibility through coordinated search and remodeling dynamics. They offer new insights into the physical mechanisms underlying gene expression and genome organization, while opening avenues for further exploration of chromatin dynamics and therapeutic strategies.

You will learn:

• How chromatin remodelers locate and access specific regions of the genome to regulate gene expression
• What roles nucleosome movement and chromatin structure play in controlling transcriptional activity
• How single-molecule techniques can reveal the dynamics of genome organization in real time