Chromatin structure of the 5′ flanking region of the yeastLEU2 gene

The chromatin structure of theLEU2 gene and its flanks has been studied by means of nuclease digestion, both with micrococcal nuclease and DNase I. The gene is organized in an array of positioned nucleosomes. Within the promoter region, the nucleosome positioning places the regulatory sequences, putative TATA box and upstream activator sequence outside the nucleosomal cores. The tRNA3 Leu gene possesses a characteristic structure and is protected against nucleases. Most of the 5′ flank is sensitive to DNase I digestion, although no clear hypersensitive sites were found. The chromatin structure is independent of either the transcriptional state of the gene or the chromosomal or episomal loca…