Correlative single-molecule fluorescence barcoding of gene regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Most cells adapt to their environment by switching combinations of genes on and off through a complex interplay of transcription factor proteins (TFs). The mechanisms by which TFs respond to signals, move into the nucleus and find specific binding sites in target genes is still largely unknown. Single-molecule fluorescence microscopes, which can image single TFs in live cells, have begun to elucidate the problem. Here, we show that different environmental signals, in this case carbon sources, yield a unique single-molecule fluorescence pattern of foci of a key metabolic regulating transcription factor, Mig1, in the nucleus of the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cer-evisiae. This pattern serves as a 'barcode' of the gene regulatory state of the cells which can be correlated with cell growth characteristics and other biological function.

Automated summary

Research has found that different environmental signals result in unique single-molecule fluorescence patterns of the Mig1 transcription factor in the nucleus of budding yeast, acting as a 'barcode' of gene regulatory state that correlates with cell growth characteristics and other biological functions.