A comprehensiveSchizosaccharomyces pombeatlas of physical transcription factor interactions with proteins and chromatin

Abstract

SUMMARYTranscription factors (TFs) are key regulators of gene expression, yet many of their targets and modes of action remain unknown. InSchizosaccharomyces pombe, one-third of TFs are solely homology-predicted, with few experimentally validated. We created a comprehensive library of 89 endogenously taggedS. pombeTFs, 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 regulatory 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 new insights into TF interactions and regulatory mechanisms with broad biological relevance.HIGHLIGHTSComprehensive strain library of endogenously taggedS. pombeTFsExperimentally determined atlas of TF interactions with proteins and chromatinTFexplorer web application for interactive exploration of TF interactomesIdentification of repressive Nattou complex linked to perinuclear gene localization