While much is known about how transcription is controlled at individual genes, comparatively little is known about how cells regulate gene expression on a genome-wide level. Here, we identify a molecular pathway in the C. elegans germline that controls transcription globally in response to nutritional stress. We report that when embryos hatch into L1 larvae, they sense the nutritional status of their environment, and if food is unavailable, they repress gene expression via a global chromatin compaction (GCC) pathway. GCC is triggered by the energy-sensing kinase AMPK and is mediated by a novel mechanism that involves the topoisomerase II/condensin II axis acting upstream of heterochromatin assembly. When the GCC pathway is inactivated, then transcription persists during starvation. These results define a new mode of whole-genome control of transcription.

中文翻译：

---

饥饿期间抑制种系基因表达的整体染色质压缩途径

虽然人们对单个基因的转录如何控制知之甚多，但对于细胞如何在全基因组水平上调节基因表达却知之甚少。在这里，我们确定了秀丽隐杆线虫种系中的一个分子途径，该途径控制全局转录以响应营养应激。我们报告说，当胚胎孵化成 L1 幼虫时，它们会感知环境的营养状况，如果没有食物，它们会通过全局染色质压缩 (GCC) 途径抑制基因表达。GCC 由能量感应激酶 AMPK 触发，并由一种新机制介导，该机制涉及作用于异染色质组装上游的拓扑异构酶 II/凝缩蛋白 II 轴。当 GCC 途径失活时，转录在饥饿期间持续存在。这些结果定义了全基因组转录控制的新模式。