The Paf1 complex promotes displacement of histones upon rapid induction of transcription by RNA polymerase II

Background: The yeast Paf1 protein complex is required for efficient transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNA pol II), but the precise role of the complex has been unclear. Results: Here we show that depletion of the Ctr9 or Paf1 component of the Paf1 complex delays the loss of histones from the GALI gene upon induction. This delay in histone removal is accompanied by a decrease in association of RNA pol II with GALI and altered distribution of the polymerase along the locus. Conclusion: These observations may explain why initial induction of GAL transcripts is reduced in Ctr9- or Paf1-deficient cells, and is consistent with a model suggesting that the Paf1 complex and the histone modifications that it mediates increase efficiency of transcriptional elongation by promoting nucleosomal destabilization and histone removal.