EVIDENCE THAT SPT6P CONTROLS CHROMATIN STRUCTURE BY A DIRECT INTERACTION WITH HISTONES

Genetic analysis has implicated SPT6, an essential gene of Saccharomyc es cerevisiae, in the control of chromatin structure. Mutations in SPT 6 and particular mutations in histone genes are able to overcome trans criptional defects in strains lacking the Snf/Swi protein complex. Her e it is shown that an spt6 mutation causes changes in chromatin struct ure in vivo. In addition, both in vivo and in vitro experiments provid e evidence that Spt6p interacts directly with histones and primarily w ith histone H3. Consistent with these findings, Spt6p is capable of nu cleosome assembly in vitro.