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Interaction between SETD2 and hnRNP L has previously been shown to be implicated in coupling gene transcription and mRNA processing. Here the authors elucidate the molecular basis of this functional interaction, showing that the RRM domain of hnRNP L possesses non-overlapping binding interfaces for engaging RNA and SETD2.

Research shows how the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum manipulates the expression of its var genes to avoid recognition by the host immune system. Four experts comment on the implications of these results for our understanding of gene regulation in general and the development of antimalaria vaccines. See Letter p.223

In yeast, histone H3 lysine 36 methylation can suppress the incorporation of acetylated histones by inhibiting histone exchange in transcribed genes, thus preventing spurious cryptic transcripts from initiating within open reading frames.

Nucleosomes have been shown to impede the elongation of RNA polymerase II during transcription. Here, the authors provide evidence that in fission yeast chromatin remodeller Fun30^Fft3 localizes to transcribing regions to promote transcription by nucleosome disassembly in vivo.

The methylation of Histone 3 at Lysine 36 (H3K36) has been implicated in the regulation of transcription and coupled processes such as mRNA splicing. Here the authors show that the histone methyltransferase SETD2 interacts with hnRNP L to mediate the crosstalk between the transcription and splicing machineries.

The vertebrate body plan shows marked bilateral symmetry, although this can be disrupted in conditions such as scoliosis. Here, a mutation in Rere is found that leads to the formation of asymmetrical somites in mouse embryos; furthermore, Rere is shown to control retinoic acid signalling, which is required to maintain somite symmetry by interacting with Fgf8. The results provide insight into how bilateral symmetry is maintained.

The rapid induction of specific sets of genes is required for cells to respond to external cues. Transcription of eukaryotic inducible genes is controlled at multiple steps, including activator recruitment and polymerase pausing, and is influenced by chromatin remodelling and signal transduction.

Pyruvate kinase phosphorylates histone H3T11 (H3pT11) and represses gene expression by forming a large complex SESAME (Serine-responsive SAM-containing Metabolic Enzyme). Here the authors show that SESAME-catalyzed H3pT11 regulates telomere silencing by promoting Sir2 binding at telomeres and preventing autophagy-mediated Sir2 degradation.

Using budding yeast and human endothelial cells, Li et al. find that increased synthesis of acetyl-CoA in the nucleus promotes histone acetylation at subtelomeric regions, thus leading to telomere silencing defects and cellular senescence.

The histone H3K36 methylation mark is associated with coding regions of actively transcribed genes, yet it plays a negative role during transcription elongation. In vitro and in vivo studies in budding yeast now reveal that the Isw1b chromatin remodeler is recruited by H3K36 methylation to open reading frames, where it acts in conjunction with a second remodeler to prevent histone exchange and maintain chromatin integrity during transcription elongation.

Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) are highly diverse multiprotein complexes that carry out diverse functions, ranging from repairing regions of DNA damage to maintaining overall genomic integrity. HATs are regulated by associated factors and by the dynamic interplay with existing histone modifications.

Male fruitflies upregulate transcription of nearly all genes on their single X chromosome to equalize expression with the two X chromosomes in females. A new study shows that the distribution of the histone acetylation mark associated with this upregulation is much broader than that of the MSL complex responsible for depositing this mark.

BAF is a heterogenous chromatin-remodelling complex, frequently mutated in cancer. A study now defines genome-wide localization patterns of three complexes, cBAF, PBAF and previously unknown ncBAF, and reveals the ncBAF complex as a specific vulnerability in synovial sarcoma and malignant rhabdoid tumours.

The MSL complex is involved in upregulation of genes on the Drosophila melanogaster male X chromosome during dosage compensation. Using mutagenesis, the MSL3 chromodomain is now shown to interact with methylated histone H3K36 and is implicated in the spreading of the dosage-compensation complex from its initial binding sites, defining a process of spreading by activation complexes analogous to that defined for silencing complexes.

Maintenance of chromatin structure in coding regions is partially dependent on transcription, with histone methyltransferase Set2 playing a role in this process. Here, the authors provide evidence that Set2 regulates repression of a specific set of antisense RNAs embedded within the coding genes.

Mass spectrometry reveals protein acetylation to be as widespread as phosphorylation.

Access of RNA polymerase II to DNA is regulated by the ordered disassembly of nucleosomes and by histone exchange. Chromatin modifications, chromatin remodellers, histone chaperones and histone variants control nucleosomal dynamics, and dysregulation of these components results in aberrant transcription.

NuA4 is an essential and conserved histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complex. Using electron microscopy supported by biochemical analyses, insights are now gained into its interaction with the nucleosome core particle (NCP). These data indicate that the Epl1 subunit is essential for NCP interaction, whereas the Yng2 subunit positions the acetyltransferase complex relative to specific histone tails.

The non-specific lethal (NSL) complex is a highly conserved MOF acetyltransferase-containing complex. A recent study now shows that the NSL complex acetylates a new non-histone target, Lamin A/C and reveals the NSL complex as a crucial factor in maintaining nuclear architecture and genome integrity.

Does it or doesn't it? For some time there has been controversy as to whether TBP (TATA-binding protein) needs TAFs (TBP-associated factors) to do its crucial job in gene transcription. Five papers now add to this debate — they show that TAFs have a broader function in gene expression than was previously thought.

Analysis of peripheral mycobacteria-reactive CD4⁺ T cell receptor sequences from individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis shows a high degree of overlap between progressors and controllers, but points to some distinct clonotypes that are enriched in either group.

Recent studies suggest that the Spt16 protein of FACT shuttles H2A–H2B dimers off and on nucleosomes during transcription elongation. By restoring nucleosomes after passage of RNA polymerase II, Spt16 and Spt6 prevent transcription from cryptic promoters in coding regions that would otherwise be expressed in the absence of histones.

An abundance of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) present in most species from yeast to human are involved in transcriptional regulation, dosage compensation and imprinting. This underscores the importance of lncRNA as functional RNA despite the fact that they do not produce proteins. Two recent papers in Cell have demonstrated that transcription of the non-conserved lncRNAs, but not the RNAs themselves, is necessary to introduce co-transcriptional regulatory histone marks to regulate gene expression.

Regulatory information stored in modified histones is functionally translated by effector proteins ('readers'), which identify the histone mark to determine the specificity of the response. A recent study identifying the tumor suppressor protein ZMYND11 as an exclusive reader of methylated histone variant H3.3, throws light on the role of transcription regulation in suppressing tumors.

How cells ensure that productive transcription from divergent promoters is limited to the downstream protein-coding region is an important question in the transcription field. A recent study in Nature proposed an answer by revealing that the upstream antisense transcripts undergo early termination through the polyadenylation signal-dependent pathway, and the downstream sense transcripts are protected from premature cleavage by U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP).