Recruitment of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex by transcriptional activators

Abstract

SWI/SNF is a chromatin remodeling complex that facilitates expression of a number of yeast genes. Here we demonstrate that SWI/SNF can be recruited from yeast nuclear extracts by a transcriptional activator. Recruitment is dependent on an activation domain but not on promoter sequences, TBP, or RNA polymerase II holoenzyme. We also show that acidic activation domains can target SWI/SNF remodeling activity. These results demonstrate that SWI/SNF activity can be targeted by gene-specific activators and that this recruitment can occur independently of Pol II holoenzyme.