TitleRNA fine-tunes estrogen receptor-alpha binding on low-affinity DNA motifs for transcriptional regulation.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2024
AuthorsSoota D, Saravanan B, Mann R, Kharbanda T, Notani D
JournalEMBO J
Date Published2024 Sep 16
ISSN1460-2075
Abstract

Transcription factors (TFs) regulate gene expression by binding with varying strengths to DNA via their DNA-binding domain. Additionally, some TFs also interact with RNA, which modulates transcription factor binding to chromatin. However, whether RNA-mediated TF binding results in differential transcriptional outcomes remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that estrogen receptor α (ERα), a ligand-activated TF, interacts with RNA in a ligand-dependent manner. Defects in RNA binding lead to genome-wide loss of ERα recruitment, particularly at weaker ERα-motifs. Furthermore, ERα mobility in the nucleus increases in the absence of its RNA-binding capacity. Unexpectedly, this increased mobility coincides with robust polymerase loading and transcription of ERα-regulated genes that harbor low-strength motifs. However, highly stable binding of ERα on chromatin negatively impacts ligand-dependent transcription. Collectively, our results suggest that RNA interactions spatially confine ERα on low-affinity sites to fine-tune gene transcription.

DOI10.1038/s44318-024-00225-y
Alternate JournalEMBO J
PubMed ID39284910
PubMed Central ID8197421
Grant ListIA/S/23/1/506749 / / Wellcome Trust DBT India Alliance (India Alliance) /
CRG/2019/005714 / / Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India (DST) /
GIN / / European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) /
RTI 4006 / / TIFR | National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) /