Global inhibition of transcription causes an increase in histone H2A.Z incorporation within gene bodies

Abstract

H2A.Z histone variant is an important regulator of gene transcription, which is enriched at regulatory regions but is also found within gene bodies. Recent evidence suggests that active recruitment of H2A.Z within gene bodies is required to induce gene repression. In contrast to this view, we show that global inhibition of transcription results in H2A.Z accumulation at gene transcription start sites, as well as within gene bodies. Our results indicate that accumulation of H2A.Z within repressed genes can also be a consequence of the repression of gene transcription rather than an active mechanism required to establish the repression.