Chromatin Dynamics: At the Source of RNA Production

Abstract

Through its local heterogeneities and transient structural changes resulting from chemical modifications and physical constraints imposed by numerous actors in vivo, chromatin dynamics influences (and is influenced by) DNA transcription, both at the initiation and elongation stages.While transcription events often correlate with large chromatin movements, RNA polymerase access to its target sequence implies some nucleosome dynamics (potentially mediated by chromatin remodeling factors) and its subsequent tracking along the DNA template imposes some drastic topological and structural changes that propagate in the transcribed chromatin domain. Experiments and models aimed at deciphering the key features of chromatin dynamics and topology upon transcription will be presented.In a second part of the talk, we will shift from eukaryotes to prokaryotes and show some recent data on ncRNA self-assembly, which role (and potential occurrence in eukaryotes) will be questioned.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide