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. 2022;2533:25–38. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2501-9_2

Establishment and Maintenance of Open Ribosomal RNA Gene Chromatin States in Eukaryotes.

Christopher Schächner, Philipp E Merkl, Michael Pilsl, Katrin Schwank, Kristin Hergert, Sebastian Kruse, Philipp Milkereit, Herbert Tschochner, Joachim Griesenbeck
PMCID: PMC9761505  PMID: 35796980

Abstract

In growing eukaryotic cells, nuclear ribosomal (r)RNA synthesis by RNA polymerase (RNAP) I accounts for the vast majority of cellular transcription. This high output is achieved by the presence of multiple copies of rRNA genes in eukaryotic genomes transcribed at a high rate. In contrast to most of the other transcribed genomic loci, actively transcribed rRNA genes are largely devoid of nucleosomes adapting a characteristic "open" chromatin state, whereas a significant fraction of rRNA genes resides in a transcriptionally inactive nucleosomal "closed" chromatin state. Here, we review our current knowledge about the nature of open rRNA gene chromatin and discuss how this state may be established.

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