Chromosome associations in budding yeast caused by integrated tandemly repeated transgenes

The binding of GFP-tagged tetracycline repressor (TetR) molecules to chromosomally integrated tetracycline operator (tetO) sequence repeats has been used as a system to study chromosome behaviour microscopically in vivo. We found that these integrated transgenes influence the architecture of yeast interphase nuclei, as chromosomal loci with tandem repeats of exogenous tetO sequences are frequently associated. These associations occur only if TetR molecules are present. tetO tandem repeats associate regardless of their chromosomal context. When they are present at a proximal and a distal chromosomal position, they perturb the normal polarized Rabl-arrangement of chromosome arms by recruiting chromosome ends to the centromeric pole of the nucleus. Associations are established at G1 and are reduced during S-phase and mitosis. This system may serve as a model for the role of DNA sequence-specific binding proteins in imposing nonrandom distribution of chromosomes within the nucleus.