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Antisense transcription is widespread in genomes. Despite large differences in gene size and architecture, we find that yeast and human genes share a unique, antisense transcription-associated chromatin signature. We asked whether this signature is related to a biological function for antisense transcription. Using quantitative RNA-FISH, we observed changes in sense transcript distributions in nuclei and cytoplasm as antisense transcript levels were altered. To determine the mechanistic differences underlying these distributions, we developed a mathematical framework describing transcription from initiation to transcript degradation. At GAL1, high levels of antisense transcription alter sense transcription dynamics, reducing rates of transcript production and processing, while increasing transcript stability. This relationship with transcript stability is also observed as a genome-wide association. Establishing the antisense transcription-associated chromatin signature through disruption of the Set3C histone deacetylase activity is sufficient to similarly change these rates even in the absence of antisense transcription. Thus, antisense transcription alters sense transcription dynamics in a chromatin-dependent manner.

Original publication

DOI

10.15252/msb.20178007

Type

Journal article

Journal

Mol Syst Biol

Publication Date

12/02/2018

Volume

14

Keywords

Set3C lysine deacetylase, antisense transcription, chromatin, sense transcript dynamics, stochastic model, Chromatin, Cytoplasm, Galactokinase, Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal, Histone Deacetylases, Humans, In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence, RNA Stability, RNA, Antisense, RNA, Fungal, RNA, Messenger, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins, Transcription, Genetic