A specialized nucleosome modulates transcription factor access to a C. glabrata metal responsive promoter

In vivo footprinting and chromatin-mapping experiments have shown that the single metal response element (MRE) plays a critical role in transcriptional autoactivation by the Amt1 copper metaloregulatory transcription factor in Candida glabrata. Transcription occurs when MRE binds to the Amt1 gene, resulting in protection from toxic levels of copper. The AMT1 promoter region within a nucleosome offers a mechanism for rapid transcription factor access to evoke response to copper.