2025/02/26 by Merle Skribbe, Charlotte Soneson, Michael Stadler +9 · 1 voice · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Bioinformatics and Genomic Networks #Fungal and yeast genetics research #Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
paper · doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2025.01.032
openalex publication_date 2025/02/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
Transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators of gene expression, yet many of their targets and modes of action remain unknown. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, one-third of TFs are solely homology predicted, with few experimentally validated. We created a comprehensive library of 89 endogenously tagged S. pombe TFs, mapping their protein and chromatin interactions using immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. Our study identified protein interactors for half the TFs, with over a quarter potentially forming stable complexes. We discovered DNA-binding sites for most TFs across 2,027 unique genomic regions, revealing motifs for 38 TFs and uncovering a complex network of extensive TF cross- and autoregulation. Characterization of the largest TF family revealed conserved DNA sequence preferences but diverse binding patterns and identified a repressive heterodimer, Ntu1/Ntu2, linked to perinuclear gene localization. Our TFexplorer webtool makes all data interactively accessible, offering insights into TF interactions and regulatory mechanisms with broad biological relevance.