Yeast Bdf1 interactome - Bdf1 Bromodomains are Essential for Meiosis and the Expression of Meiotic-Specific Genes

Bromodomain and Extra-terminal motif (BET) proteins play a central role in transcription regulation and chromatin signalling pathways. In yeast, Bdf1 and its homologous protein Bdf2 are partially redundant and the deletion of both genes is lethal. Most of Bdf1 functions have been investigated in vegetative cells even if this protein is essential for sporulation. In this study, we explored for the first time the functional role of the Bdf1 bromodomains during the sporulation program. Extensive purification of Bdf1 partners identified two independent complexes with Bdf2 or the Swr1 complex. However, none of them are required for meiotic gene regulation or to complete sporulation. Taken together, our results unveil a new role for Bdf1 as a meiotic-specific gene transcriptional regulator independently of its predominant protein partners.