Genome-wide determinants of sequence-specific DNA binding

DNA binding protein are generally thought to bind specific DNA sequences through selective interactions with DNA bases. However, it is now becoming more widely appreciated that DNA shape, which may not be specified by a unique base sequence, also contributes to site-specific binding. Here we elucidate how DNA sequence and shape confer site specificity on a genomic scale, and relate this to specificity imparted indirectly through occlusion of sequences by the in vivo environment. For simplicity, we focus on the set of General Regulatory Factors (GRFs) that do not rely on other factors for binding. They also serve a related function in organizing chromatin. Remarkably, we find that GRFs will not bind to their cognate motif if the DNA surrounding that sequence lacks a specific shape. While proper DNA sequence/shape properties tend to be restricted to promoter regions, weaker sites that are still binding-competent reside in gene bodies, but are prevented from binding by resident chromatin. Thus, site-specificity is achieved across a genome in vivo by the combined action of favorable DNA sequence and shape interactions, and occlusion by chromatin. Genome-wide analysis of yeast general regulatory factors using an in vitro version of ChIP-exo