Oriented binding of transcription factors to nucleosomes remodels chromatin at human promoters.

Oriented binding of ELF2 and YY1 to nucleosomes at human promoters enhances transcriptional activity by making TSSs accessible.

• Why it matters: Understanding how transcription factors access nucleosomal DNA is crucial for revealing mechanisms of gene regulation and chromatin remodeling, especially at highly active promoters.
• What they did: The study presents the first structure of an oriented TF:nucleosome complex involving ELF2, showing its ability to bind double motifs at superhelical location +4, unwinding DNA, and occupying unmethylated motifs in vivo; it also highlights the enrichment and orientation of ELF2 and YY1 motifs downstream of TSSs.
• The result: Findings imply that oriented TF binding is a key mechanism for promoting high transcriptional activity by facilitating TSS accessibility, advancing our understanding of chromatin dynamics and gene regulation.