Transcriptional response to stress in the dynamic chromatin environment of cycling and mitotic cells

Abstract

Significance We determined the transcriptional program that is rapidly provoked to counteract heat-induced stress and uncovered the broad range of molecular mechanisms that maintain cellular homeostasis under hostile conditions. Because transcriptional responses are directed in the complex chromatin environment that undergoes dramatic changes during the cell cycle progression, we identified the genomewide transcriptional response to stress also in cells where the chromatin is condensed for mitotic division. Our results highlight the importance of the cell cycle phase in provoking cellular responses and identify molecular mechanisms that direct transcription during the progression of the cell cycle.