The RNA polymerase II general transcription factors: past, present, and future

DNA Sensor ABCF1 Phase Separates With cccDNA to Inhibit Hepatitis B Virus Replication

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) contributes to viral persistence and recurrence, however, how the host innate immune system responds to cccDNA is still less known. Here, based on cccDNA-hepatic proteins interaction profiling, DNA sensor ATP-binding cassette subfamily F member 1 (ABCF1) is identified as a novel cccDNA-binding protein and host restriction factor for HBV replication. Mechanistically, ABCF1 recognizes cccDNA by KKx4 motif and forms phase-separated condensates by the poly-glutamine (PolyQ) region of the N-terminal intrinsically disordered low-complexity domain (LCD). Subsequently, ABCF1-cccDNA phase separation not only activates the type I/III interferon (IFN-I/III) pathway but also prevents Pol II accumulation on cccDNA to inhibit HBV transcription. In turn, to sustain viral replication, HBV reduces ABCF1 expression by HBx-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of SRY-box transcription factor 4（SOX4）, leading to defects in SOX4-mediated upregulation of ABCF1 transcription. Taken together, the study shows that ABCF1 interacts with cccDNA to form phase separation that dually drives innate immune signaling and HBV transcriptional inhibition. These findings shed new light on the understanding of host defense against cccDNA and provide a novel promising therapeutic strategy for HBV infection.

Context-dependent function of the transcriptional regulator Rap1 in gene silencing and activation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, heterochromatin is formed through interactions between site-specific DNA-binding factors, including the transcriptional activator Repressor Activator Protein (Rap1), and Sir proteins. Despite an understanding of the establishment and maintenance of Sir-silenced chromatin, the mechanism of gene silencing by Sir proteins has remained a mystery. Utilizing high-resolution chromatin immunoprecipitation, we found that Rap1, the native activator of the bidirectional HMLα promoter, bound its recognition sequence in silenced chromatin, and its binding was enhanced by the presence of Sir proteins. In contrast to prior results, various components of transcription machinery were not able to access HMLα in the silenced state. These findings disproved the long-standing model of indiscriminate steric occlusion by Sir proteins and led to investigation of the role of the transcriptional activator Rap1 in Sir-silenced chromatin. Using a highly sensitive assay that monitors loss-of-silencing events, we identified a role for promoter-bound Rap1 in the maintenance of silent chromatin through interactions with the Sir complex. We also found that promoter-bound Rap1 activated HMLα when in an expressed state, and aided in the transition from transcription initiation to elongation. Highlighting the importance of epigenetic context in transcription factor function, these results point toward a model in which the duality of Rap1 function was mediated by local chromatin environment rather than binding-site availability.

Context dependent function of the transcriptional regulator Rap1 in gene silencing and activation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, heterochromatin is formed through interactions between site-specific DNA-binding factors, including the transcriptional activator Rap1, and Sir proteins. Despite a vast understanding of the establishment and maintenance of Sir-silenced chromatin, the mechanism of gene silencing by Sir proteins has remained a mystery. Utilizing high resolution chromatin immunoprecipitation, we found that Rap1, the native activator of the bi-directional HML α promoter, bound its recognition sequence in silenced chromatin and its binding was enhanced by the presence of Sir proteins. In contrast to prior results, various components of transcription machinery were not able to access HML α in the silenced state. These findings disproved the long-standing model of indiscriminate steric occlusion by Sir proteins and led to investigation of the transcriptional activator Rap1 in Sir-silenced chromatin. Using a highly sensitive assay that monitors loss-of-silencing events, we identified a novel role for promoter-bound Rap1 in the maintenance of silent chromatin through interactions with the Sir complex. We also found that promoter-bound Rap1 activated HML α when in an expressed state, and aided in the transition from transcription initiation to elongation. Highlighting the importance of epigenetic context in transcription factor function, these results point toward a model in which the duality of Rap1 function was mediated by local chromatin environment rather than binding-site availability.

Significance Statement

The coarse partitioning of the genome into regions of active euchromatin and repressed heterochromatin is an important, and conserved, level gene expression regulation in eukaryotes. Repressor Activator Protein (Rap1) is a transcription factor that promotes the activation of genes when recruited to promoters, and aids in the establishment of heterochromatin through interactions with silencer elements. Here, we investigate the role of Rap1 when bound to a promoter in silent chromatin and dissect the context-specific epigenetic cues that regulate the dual properties of this transcription factor. Together, our data highlight the importance of protein-protein interactions and local chromatin state on transcription factor function.

Structural Biology of RNA Polymerase II Transcription: 20 Years On

Gene transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is the first step in the expression of the eukaryotic genome and a focal point for cellular regulation during development, differentiation, and responses to the environment. Two decades after the determination of the structure of Pol II, the mechanisms of transcription have been elucidated with studies of Pol II complexes with nucleic acids and associated proteins. Here we provide an overview of the nearly 200 available Pol II complex structures and summarize how these structures have elucidated promoter-dependent transcription initiation, promoter-proximal pausing and release of Pol II into active elongation, and the mechanisms that Pol II uses to navigate obstacles such as nucleosomes and DNA lesions. We predict that future studies will focus on how Pol II transcription is interconnected with chromatin transitions, RNA processing, and DNA repair.

Organization and regulation of gene transcription

The regulated transcription of genes determines cell identity and function. Recent structural studies have elucidated mechanisms that govern the regulation of transcription by RNA polymerases during the initiation and elongation phases. Microscopy studies have revealed that transcription involves the condensation of factors in the cell nucleus. A model is emerging for the transcription of protein-coding genes in which distinct transient condensates form at gene promoters and in gene bodies to concentrate the factors required for transcription initiation and elongation, respectively. The transcribing enzyme RNA polymerase II may shuttle between these condensates in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Molecular principles are being defined that rationalize transcriptional organization and regulation, and that will guide future investigations.

Poly ADP-ribose polymerase-1: Beyond transcription and towards differentiation

Gene regulation mediates the processes of cellular development and differentiation leading to the origin of different cell types each having their own signature gene expression profile. However, the compact chromatin structure and the timely recruitment of molecules involved in various signaling pathways are of prime importance for temporal and spatial gene regulation that eventually contribute towards cell type and specificity. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), a 116-kDa nuclear multitasking protein is involved in modulation of chromatin condensation leading to altered gene expression. In response to activation signals, it adds ADP-ribose units to various target proteins including itself, thus regulating various key cellular processes like DNA repair, cell death, transcription, mRNA splicing etc. This review provides insights into the role of PARP-1 in gene regulation, cell differentiation and multicellular morphogenesis. In addition, the review also explores involvement of PARP-1 in immune cells development and therapeutic possibilities to treat various human diseases.

Genomics Basics: DNA Structure, Gene Expression, Cloning, Genetic Mapping, and Molecular Tests

Genomics is the study of the structure and function of the human genome including genes and their surrounding DNA sequences. The over 3 billion base pairs of the human genome have now been sequenced and approximately 25 000 genes acknowledged. However, only 1% of the entire genome has been assigned to protein coding and decades more work is anticipated to define the functional relevance of noncoding DNA as well as the basis and consequences of sequence variations among individuals. For medical scientists, the focus remains on discovering both disease-causing and disease-susceptibility genes. For pharmaceutical companies, the opportunity to develop molecularly targeted therapy is not going unnoticed. For the practicing physician, the prospect of genomic medicine that incorporates molecular diagnosis and pathogenesis-targeted therapy requires basic understanding of terminology and concepts in molecular biology and the corresponding laboratory tests.

Structural basis of transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II

Transcription of eukaryotic protein-coding genes commences with the assembly of a conserved initiation complex, which consists of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and the general transcription factors, at promoter DNA. After two decades of research, the structural basis of transcription initiation is emerging. Crystal structures of many components of the initiation complex have been resolved, and structural information on Pol II complexes with general transcription factors has recently been obtained. Although mechanistic details await elucidation, available data outline how Pol II cooperates with the general transcription factors to bind to and open promoter DNA, and how Pol II directs RNA synthesis and escapes from the promoter.

PARP-1 and gene regulation: progress and puzzles

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), also referred to as ADP-ribosyltransferase Diphtheria toxin-like 1 (ARTD1), is an abundant nuclear protein that plays key roles in a variety of nuclear processes, including the regulation of transcription. PARP-1 possesses an intrinsic enzymatic activity that catalyzes the transfer of ADP-ribose (ADPR) units from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) onto target gene regulatory proteins, thereby modulating their activities. Although great strides have been made in the past decade in deciphering the seemingly opposing and varied roles of PARP-1 in gene regulation, many puzzles remain. In this review, we discuss the current state of understanding in this area, especially how PARP-1 interfaces with various components of gene regulatory pathways (e.g., the basal transcription machinery, DNA-binding transcription factors, coregulators, chromatin remodeling, histone modifications, and DNA methylation). In addition, we discuss some gene-specific, cell type-specific, and cell state-specific effects of PARP-1 on gene regulation, which might contribute to its biological functions. Finally, we review some of the recent progress targeting PARPs using chemical inhibitors, some of which may alter PARP-1-dependent gene regulatory programs to promote therapeutic outcomes.

Efficient reconstitution of transcription elongation complexes for single-molecule studies of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II

Single-molecule studies of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) require high yields of transcription elongation complexes (TECs) with long DNA tethers upstream and downstream of the TEC. Here we report on a robust system to reconstitute both yeast and mammalian RNAP II with an efficiency of ~80% into TECs that elongate with an efficiency of ~90%, followed by rapid, high-efficiency tripartite ligation of long DNA fragments upstream and downstream of the reconstituted TECs. Single mammalian and yeast TECs reconstituted with this method have been successfully used in an optical-trapping transcription assay capable of applying forces that either assist or hinder transcript elongation.

Regulatory roles of protein kinases in cytomegalovirus replication

Viral replication is a complex process relying on a network of interacting viral and cellular proteins, in which particularly protein kinases play an important regulatory role. The specific phosphorylation of substrate proteins induces activation, inactivation, or other functional modification and thus determines virus-host cell interregulation. During herpesviral infections, both viral and cellular protein kinases are expressed and provide activities crucial for the efficiency of virus replication. The protein kinase pUL97 encoded by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a multifunctional regulatory enzyme which exerts strong regulatory effects on early and late steps of the viral replication cycle. A number of interacting proteins and substrates of pUL97 have been described, including retinoblastoma (Rb) protein, nuclear lamins and viral pUL69. Recently, it was demonstrated that pUL97 has structural and functional resemblance to cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) and thus represents a CDK ortholog. pUL97 can phosphorylate and inactivate Rb, resulting in a stimulation of cell cycle progression. In addition, the association of pUL97 activity with nucleocytoplasmic export of viral capsids has been demonstrated by several investigators. We could show that pUL97 is able to phosphorylate nuclear lamins and to contribute to the HCMV-induced reorganization of the nuclear lamina. On the basis of very recent findings, it is becoming increasingly clear that pUL97 is a component of a multiprotein nuclear egress complex (NEC). The NEC contains a small number of egress proteins involved in the recruitment of protein kinases, such as pUL97 and cellular protein kinase C (PKC), to specific sites of the nuclear lamina. Current information about the composition, function, and regulatory complexity of the NEC leads to a mechanistic concept which may set the key features of HCMV nuclear egress in a new light.

The RPB2 flap loop of human RNA polymerase II is dispensable for transcription initiation and elongation

The flap domain of multisubunit RNA polymerases (RNAPs), also called the wall, forms one side of the RNA exit channel. In bacterial RNAP, the mobile part of the flap is called the flap tip and makes essential contacts with initiation and elongation factors. Cocrystal structures suggest that the orthologous part of eukaryotic RNAPII, called the flap loop, contacts transcription factor IIB (TFIIB), but the function of the flap loop has not been assessed. We constructed and tested a deletion of the flap loop in human RNAPII (subunit RPB2 Δ873-884) that removes the flap loop interaction interface with TFIIB. Genome-wide analysis of the distribution of the RNAPII with the flap loop deletion expressed in a human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK 293) revealed no effect of the flap loop on global transcription initiation, RNAPII occupancy within genes, or the efficiency of promoter escape and productive elongation. In vitro, the flap loop deletion had no effect on promoter binding, abortive initiation or promoter escape, TFIIS-stimulated transcript cleavage, or inhibition of transcript elongation by the complex of negative elongation factor (NELF) and 5,6-dichloro-1-β-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) sensitivity-inducing factor (DSIF). A modest effect on transcript elongation and pausing was suppressed by TFIIF. Although similar to the flap tip of bacterial RNAP, the RNAPII flap loop is not equivalently essential.

Recruitment of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 to nuclear compartments during cytomegalovirus late replication: importance of an interaction between viral pUL69 and cyclin T1

Cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) are important regulators of cellular processes and are functionally integrated into the replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Recently, a regulatory impact of CDK activity on the viral mRNA export factor pUL69 was shown. Here, specific aspects of the mode of interaction between CDK9/cyclin T1 and pUL69 are described. Intracellular localization was studied in the presence of a novel selective CDK9 inhibitor, R22, which exerts anti-cytomegaloviral activity in vitro. A pronounced R22-induced formation of nuclear speckled aggregation of pUL69 was demonstrated. Multi-labelling confocal laser-scanning microscopy revealed that CDK9 and cyclin T1 co-localized perfectly with pUL69 in individual speckles. The effects were similar to those described recently for the broad CDK inhibitor roscovitine. Co-immunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid analyses showed that cyclin T1 interacted with both CDK9 and pUL69. The interaction region of pUL69 for cyclin T1 could be attributed to aa 269-487. Moreover, another component of CDK inhibitor-induced speckled aggregates was identified with RNA polymerase II, supporting earlier reports that strongly suggested an association of pUL69 with transcription complexes. Interestingly, when using a UL69-deleted recombinant HCMV, no speckled aggregates were formed by CDK inhibitor treatment. This indicated that pUL69 is the defining component of aggregates and generally may represent a crucial viral interactor of cyclin T1. In conclusion, these data emphasize that HCMV inter-regulation with CDK9/cyclin T1 is at least partly based on a pUL69-cylin T1 interaction, thus contributing to the importance of CDK9 for HCMV replication.

Three novel downstream promoter elements regulate MHC class I promoter activity in mammalian cells

BACKGROUND

MHC CLASS I TRANSCRIPTION IS REGULATED BY TWO DISTINCT TYPES OF REGULATORY PATHWAYS: 1) tissue-specific pathways that establish constitutive levels of expression within a given tissue and 2) dynamically modulated pathways that increase or decrease expression within that tissue in response to hormonal or cytokine mediated stimuli. These sets of pathways target distinct upstream regulatory elements, have distinct basal transcription factor requirements, and utilize discrete sets of transcription start sites within an extended core promoter.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

We studied regulatory elements within the MHC class I promoter by cellular transfection and in vitro transcription assays in HeLa, HeLa/CIITA, and tsBN462 of various promoter constructs. We have identified three novel MHC class I regulatory elements (GLE, DPE-L1 and DPE-L2), located downstream of the major transcription start sites, that contribute to the regulation of both constitutive and activated MHC class I expression. These elements located at the 3' end of the core promoter preferentially regulate the multiple transcription start sites clustered at the 5' end of the core promoter.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Three novel downstream elements (GLE, DPE-L1, DPE-L2), located between +1 and +32 bp, regulate both constitutive and activated MHC class I gene expression by selectively increasing usage of transcription start sites clustered at the 5' end of the core promoter upstream of +1 bp. Results indicate that the downstream elements preferentially regulate TAF1-dependent, relative to TAF1-independent, transcription.

Architecture of the RNA polymerase II-TFIIF complex revealed by cross-linking and mass spectrometry

Higher-order multi-protein complexes such as RNA polymerase II (Pol II) complexes with transcription initiation factors are often not amenable to X-ray structure determination. Here, we show that protein cross-linking coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) has now sufficiently advanced as a tool to extend the Pol II structure to a 15-subunit, 670 kDa complex of Pol II with the initiation factor TFIIF at peptide resolution. The N-terminal regions of TFIIF subunits Tfg1 and Tfg2 form a dimerization domain that binds the Pol II lobe on the Rpb2 side of the active centre cleft near downstream DNA. The C-terminal winged helix (WH) domains of Tfg1 and Tfg2 are mobile, but the Tfg2 WH domain can reside at the Pol II protrusion near the predicted path of upstream DNA in the initiation complex. The linkers between the dimerization domain and the WH domains in Tfg1 and Tfg2 are located to the jaws and protrusion, respectively. The results suggest how TFIIF suppresses non-specific DNA binding and how it helps to recruit promoter DNA and to set the transcription start site. This work establishes cross-linking/MS as an integrated structure analysis tool for large multi-protein complexes.

SIRT1-dependent regulation of chromatin and transcription: linking NAD(+) metabolism and signaling to the control of cellular functions

Sirtuins comprise a family of NAD(+)-dependent protein deacetylases and ADP-ribosyltransferases. Mammalian SIRT1 - a homolog of yeast Sir2, the prototypical member of the sirtuin family - is an important regulator of metabolism, cell differentiation and senescence, stress response, and cancer. As an NAD(+)-dependent enzyme, SIRT1 regulates gene expression programs in response to cellular metabolic status, thereby coordinating metabolic adaptation of the whole organism. Several important mechanisms have emerged for SIRT1-dependent regulation of transcription. First, SIRT1 can modulate chromatin function through direct deacetylation of histones as well as by promoting alterations in the methylation of histones and DNA, leading to the repression of transcription. The latter is accomplished through the recruitment of other nuclear enzymes to chromatin for histone methylation and DNA CpG methylation, suggesting a broader role of SIRT1 in epigenetic regulation. Second, SIRT1 can interact and deacetylate a broad range of transcription factors and coregulators, thereby regulating target gene expression both positively and negatively. Cellular energy state, specifically NAD(+) metabolism, plays a major role in the regulation of SIRT1 activity. Recent studies on the NAD(+) biosynthetic enzymes in the salvage pathway, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) and nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 1 (NMNAT-1), have revealed important functions for these enzymes in SIRT1-dependent transcription regulation. The collective molecular actions of SIRT1 control specific patterns of gene expression that modulate a wide variety of physiological outcomes.

Two type III effector genes of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae control the induction of the host genes OsTFIIAgamma1 and OsTFX1 during bacterial blight of rice

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae strain PXO99(A) induces the expression of the host gene Os8N3, which results in increased host susceptibility to bacterial blight of rice. Here, we show that PXO99(A) affects the expression of two additional genes in a type III secretion system-dependent manner, one encoding a bZIP transcription factor (OsTFX1) and the other the small subunit of the transcription factor IIA located on chromosome 1 (OsTFIIAgamma1). Induction of OsTFX1 and OsTFIIAgamma1 depended on the type III effector genes pthXo6 and pthXo7, respectively, both encoding two previously undescribed members of the transcription activator-like (TAL) effector family. pthXo7 is strain-specific and may reflect adaptation to the resistance mediated by xa5, an allele of OsTFIIAgamma5 encoding a second form of the TFIIA small subunit on chromosome 5 of rice. The loss of pthXo6 resulted in reduced pathogen virulence, and ectopic expression of OsTFX1 abrogated the requirement for pthXo6 for full virulence. X. oryzae pv. oryzae therefore modulates the expression of multiple host genes using multiple TAL effectors from a single strain, and evidence supports the hypothesis that expression of the associated host genes contributes to host susceptibility to disease.

Mutations in theC7orf11(TTDN1) gene in six nonphotosensitive trichothiodystrophy patients: no obvious genotype-phenotype relationships

Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder whose defining feature is brittle hair. Associated clinical symptoms include physical and mental retardation of different severity, ichthyosis, premature aging, and, in half of the patients, photosensitivity. Recently, C7orf11 (TTDN1) was identified as the first disease gene for the nonphotosensitive form of TTD, being mutated in two unrelated cases and in an Amish kindred. We have evaluated the involvement of TTDN1 in 44 unrelated nonphotosensitive TTD cases of different geographic origin and with different disease severity. Mutations were found in six patients, five of whom are homozygous and one of whom is a compound heterozygote. All five identified mutations are deletions that have not been described before. Three are deletions of a few bases, resulting in frameshifts and premature termination codons. The other two include the whole TTDN1 gene, suggesting that TTDN1 is not essential for cell proliferation and viability. The severity of the clinical features does not correlate with the type of mutation, indicating that other factors besides TTDN1 mutations influence the severity of the disorder. Since only a small proportion of the analyzed cases were mutated in TTDN1, the nonphotosensitive form of TTD is genetically heterogeneous. Mutations in TTDN1 do not affect the response to ultraviolet (UV) light or the steady state level of the repair/transcription factor IIH (TFIIH), which is central to the onset of the photosensitive form of TTD.

Purification and identification of proteins that bind to the hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin -198 mutation in the gamma-globin gene promoter

Expression of the gamma-globin gene is silenced in adult humans. However, certain point mutations in the gamma-globin gene promoter are capable of maintaining expression of this gene during adult erythropoiesis, a condition called non-deletion hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). Among these, the British form of HPFH carrying a T-->C point mutation at position -198 of the Agamma-globin gene promoter results in 4-10% fetal hemoglobin in heterozygotes. In this study, we used nuclear extracts from murine erythroleukemia cells to purify a protein complex that binds the HPFH -198 gamma-globin gene promoter. Members of this protein complex were identified by mass spectrometry and include DNMT1, the transcriptional coactivator p52, the protein SNEV, and RAP74 (the largest subunit of the general transcription factor IIF). Sp1, which was previously considered responsible for HPFH -198 gamma-globin gene activation, was not identified. The potential role of these proteins in the reactivation and/or maintenance of gamma-globin gene expression in the adult transcriptional environment is discussed.

Full and partial genome-wide assembly and disassembly of the yeast transcription machinery in response to heat shock

Eukaryotic genes are controlled by sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins, chromatin regulators, general transcription factors, and elongation factors. Here we examine the genome-wide location of representative members of these groups and their redistribution when the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome is reprogrammed by heat shock. As expected, assembly of active transcription complexes is coupled to eviction of H2A.Z nucleosomes, and disassembly is coupled to the return of nucleosomes. Remarkably, a large number of promoters assemble into partial preinitiation complexes (partial PICs), containing TFIIA, TFIID (and/or SAGA), TFIIB, TFIIE, and TFIIF. However, RNA polymerase II and TFIIH are generally not recruited, and nucleosomes are not displaced. These promoters may be preparing for additional stress that naturally accompany heat stress. For example, we find that oxidative stress, which often occurs with prolonged exposure of cells to high temperature, converts partial PICs into full PICs. Partial PICs therefore represent novel regulated intermediates that assemble at promoters in the midst of chromatin.

ATG deserts define a novel core promoter subclass

The MHC class I gene, PD1, has neither functional TATAA nor Initiator (Inr) elements in its core promoter and initiates transcription at multiple, dispersed sites over an extended region in vitro. Here, we define a novel core promoter feature that supports regulated transcription through selective transcription start site (TSS) usage. We demonstrate that TSS selection is actively regulated and context dependent. Basal and activated transcriptions initiate from largely nonoverlapping TSS regions. Transcripts derived from multiple TSS encode a single protein, due to the absence of any ATG triplets within approximately 430 bp upstream of the major transcription start site. Thus, the PD1 core promoter is embedded within an "ATG desert". Remarkably, extending this analysis genome-wide, we find that ATG deserts define a novel promoter subclass. They occur nonrandomly, are significantly associated with non-TATAA promoters that use multiple TSS, independent of the presence of CpG islands (CGI). We speculate that ATG deserts may provide a core promoter platform upon which complex upstream regulatory signals can be integrated, targeting multiple TSS whose products encode a single protein.

A high-resolution map of active promoters in the human genome

In eukaryotic cells, transcription of every protein-coding gene begins with the assembly of an RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex (PIC) on the promoter. The promoters, in conjunction with enhancers, silencers and insulators, define the combinatorial codes that specify gene expression patterns. Our ability to analyse the control logic encoded in the human genome is currently limited by a lack of accurate information regarding the promoters for most genes. Here we describe a genome-wide map of active promoters in human fibroblast cells, determined by experimentally locating the sites of PIC binding throughout the human genome. This map defines 10,567 active promoters corresponding to 6,763 known genes and at least 1,196 un-annotated transcriptional units. Features of the map suggest extensive use of multiple promoters by the human genes and widespread clustering of active promoters in the genome. In addition, examination of the genome-wide expression profile reveals four general classes of promoters that define the transcriptome of the cell. These results provide a global view of the functional relationships among transcriptional machinery, chromatin structure and gene expression in human cells.

Separation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Paf1 complex from RNA polymerase II results in changes in its subnuclear localization

The yeast Paf1 complex (Paf1C), composed of Paf1, Ctr9, Cdc73, Rtf1, and Leo1, associates with RNA polymerase II (Pol II) at promoters and in the actively transcribed portions of mRNA genes. Loss of Paf1 results in severe phenotypes and significantly reduced levels of the other Paf1C components. In contrast, loss of Rtf1 causes relatively subtle phenotypic changes and no reduction in the other Paf1C factors but disrupts the association of these factors with Pol II and chromatin. To elucidate the fate of the Paf1C when dissociated from Pol II, we examined the localization of the Paf1C components in paf1 and rtf1 mutant yeast strains. We found that although the Paf1C factors remain nuclear in paf1 and rtf1 strains, loss of Paf1 or Rtf1 results in a change in the subnuclear distribution of the remaining factors. In wild-type cells, Paf1C components are present in the nucleoplasm but not the nucleolus. In contrast, in both paf1 and rtf1 strains, the remaining factors are found in the nucleolus as well as the nucleoplasm. Loss of Paf1 affects nucleolar function; we observed that expression of MAK21 and RRP12, important for rRNA processing, is reduced concomitant with an increase in rRNA precursors in a paf1 strain. However, these changes are not the result of relocalization of the Paf1C because loss of Rtf1 does not cause similar changes in rRNA processing. Instead, we speculate that the change in localization may reflect a link between the Paf1C and newly synthesized mRNAs as they exit the nucleus.

TFIIB-facilitated recruitment of preinitiation complexes by a TAF-independent mechanism

Gene activators contain activation domains that are thought to recruit limiting components of the transcription machinery to a core promoter. VP16, a viral gene activator, has served as a model for studying the mechanistic aspects of transcriptional activation from yeast to human. The VP16 activation domain can be divided into two modules--an N-terminal subdomain (VPN) and a C-terminal subdomain (VPC). This study demonstrates that VPC stimulates core promoters that are either independent or dependent on TAFs (TATA-box Binding Protein-Associated Factors). In contrast, VPN only activates the TAF-independent core promoter and this activity increases in a synergistic fashion when VPN is dimerized (VPN2). Compared to one copy of VPN (VPN1), VPN2 also displays a highly cooperative increase in binding hTFIIB. The increased TFIIB binding correlates with VPN2's increased ability to recruit a complex containing TFIID, TFIIA and TFIIB. However, VPN1 and VPN2 do not increase the assembly of a complex containing only TFIID and TFIIA. The VPN subdomain also facilitates assembly of a complex containing TBP:TFIIA:TFIIB, which lacks TAFs, and provides a mechanism that could function at TAF-independent promoters. Taken together, these results suggest the interaction between VPN and TFIIB potentially initiate a network of contacts allowing the activator to indirectly tether TFIID or TBP to DNA.

TFIIA abrogates the effects of inhibition by HMGB1 but not E1A during the early stages of assembly of the transcriptional preinitiation complex

Successful assembly of the transcriptional preinitiation complex (PIC) is prerequisite to transcriptional initiation. At each stage of PIC assembly, regulation may occur as repressors and activators compete with and influence the incorporation of general transcription factors (GTFs). Both TFIIA and HMGB1 bind individually to the TATA-binding protein (TBP) to increase the rate of binding and to stabilize TBP binding to the TATA element. The competitive binding between these two cofactors for TBP/TATA was examined to show that TFIIA binds preferentially to TBP and inhibits HMGB1 binding. TFIIA can also readily dissociate HMGB1 from the preestablished HMGB1/TBP/TATA complex. This suggests that TFIIA and HMGB1 may bind to the same or overlapping sites on TBP and/or compete for similar DNA sites that are 5' to the TATA element. In addition, EMSA studies show that adenovirus E1A(13S) oncoprotein is unable to disrupt either the preestablished TFIIA/TBP/TATA or TFIIA/TFIIB/TBP/TATA complexes, but does inhibit complex formation when all transcription factors were simultaneously added. The inhibitory effect of E1A(13S) on the assembly of the PIC is overcome when excess TBP is added back in the reaction, while addition of either excess TFIIA or TFIIB were ineffective. This shows that the main target for E1A(13S) is free TBP and emphasizes the primary competition between E1A and the TATA-element for unbound TBP. This may be the principal point, if not the only point, at which E1A can target TBP to exert its inhibitory effect. This work, coupled with previous findings in our laboratory, indicates that TFIIA is much more effective than TFIIB in reversing the inhibitory effect of HMGB1 binding in the early stages of PIC assembly, which is consistent with the in vitro transcription results.

The ubiquitin ligase activity in the DDB2 and CSA complexes is differentially regulated by the COP9 signalosome in response to DNA damage

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a major cellular defense against the carcinogenic effects of ultraviolet light from the sun. Mutational inactivation of NER proteins, like DDB and CSA, leads to hereditary diseases such as xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) and Cockayne syndrome (CS). Here, we show that DDB2 and CSA are each integrated into nearly identical complexes via interaction with DDB1. Both complexes contain cullin 4A and Roc1 and display ubiquitin ligase activity. They also contain the COP9 signalosome (CSN), a known regulator of cullin-based ubiquitin ligases. Strikingly, CSN differentially regulates ubiquitin ligase activity of the DDB2 and CSA complexes in response to UV irradiation. Knockdown of CSN with RNA interference leads to defects in NER. These results suggest that the distinct UV response of the DDB2 and CSA complexes is involved in diverse mechanisms of NER.

Distinct transcriptional pathways regulate basal and activated major histocompatibility complex class I expression

Transcription of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes is regulated by both tissue-specific (basal) and hormone/cytokine (activated) mechanisms. Although promoter-proximal regulatory elements have been characterized extensively, the role of the core promoter in mediating regulation has been largely undefined. We report here that the class I core promoter consists of distinct elements that are differentially utilized in basal and activated transcription pathways. These pathways recruit distinct transcription factor complexes to the core promoter elements and target distinct transcription initiation sites. Class I transcription initiates at four major sites within the core promoter and is clustered in two distinct regions: "upstream" (-14 and -18) and "downstream" (+12 and +1). Basal transcription initiates predominantly from the upstream start site region and is completely dependent upon the general transcription factor TAF1 (TAF(II)250). Activated transcription initiates predominantly from the downstream region and is TAF1 (TAF(II)250) independent. USF1 augments transcription initiating through the upstream start sites and is dependent on TAF1 (TAF(II)250), a finding consistent with its role in regulating basal class I transcription. In contrast, transcription activated by the interferon mediator CIITA is independent of TAF1 (TAF(II)250) and focuses initiation on the downstream start sites. Thus, basal and activated transcriptions of an MHC class I gene target distinct core promoter domains, nucleate distinct transcription initiation complexes and initiate at distinct sites within the promoter. We propose that transcription initiation at the core promoter is a dynamic process in which the mechanisms of core promoter function differ depending on the cellular environment.

The fission yeast TFIIB-related factor limits RNA polymerase III to a TATA-dependent pathway of TBP recruitment

The RNA polymerase (pol) III-transcribed (e.g. tRNA and 5S rRNA) genes of traditionally studied organisms rely on gene-internal promoters that precisely position the initiation factor, TFIIIB, on the upstream promoter-less DNA. This is accomplished by the ability of the TFIIIB subunit, TFIIB-related factor (Brf1), to make stable protein-protein interactions with TATA-binding protein (TBP) and place it on the promoter-less upstream DNA. Unlike traditional model organisms, Schizosaccharomyces pombe tRNA and 5S rRNA genes contain upstream TATA promoters that are required to program functional pol III initiation complexes. In this study we demonstrate that S.pombe (Sp)Brf does not form stable interactions with TBP in the absence of DNA using approaches that do reveal stable association of TBP and S.cerevisiae (Sc)Brf1. Gel mobility analyses demonstrate that a TBP-TATA DNA complex can recruit SpBrf to a Pol III promoter. Consistent with this, overproduction of SpBrf in S.pombe increases the expression of a TATA-dependent, but not a TATA-less, suppressor tRNA gene. Since previous whole genome analysis also revealed TATA elements upstream of tRNA genes in Arabidopsis, this pathway may be more widespread than appreciated previously.

A discrete transcriptional silencer in the bam gene determines asymmetric division of the Drosophila germline stem cell

The Drosophila germline lineage depends on a complex microenvironment of extrinsic and intrinsic factors that regulate the self-renewing and asymmetric divisions of dedicated stem cells. Germline stem cells (GSCs) must express components of the Dpp cassette and the translational repressors Nanos and Pumilio, whereas cystoblasts require the bam and bgcn genes. Bam is especially attractive as a target of GSC differentiation factors because current evidence indicates that bam is both necessary and sufficient for cystoblast differentiation. In this paper, we have sought to distinguish between mutually exclusive transcriptional or post-transcriptional mechanisms as the primary regulators of bam expression in GSCs and cystoblasts. We find that bam transcription is active in young germ cells but is repressed specifically in GSCs. Activation depends on a 50 bp fragment that carries at least one germ cell-specific enhancer element. A non-overlapping 18 bp sequence carries a transcriptional silencer that prevents bam expression in the GSC. Promoters lacking this silencer cause bam expression in the GSC and concomitant GSC loss. Thus, asymmetry of the GSC division can be reduced to identifying the mechanism that selectively activates the silencer element in GSCs.

Collaborative competition mechanism for gene activation in vivo

The mechanism by which gene regulatory proteins gain access to their DNA target sites is not known. In vitro, binding is inherently cooperative between arbitrary DNA binding proteins whose target sites are located within the same nucleosome. We refer to such competition-based cooperativity as collaborative competition. Here we show that arbitrarily chosen foreign DNA binding proteins, LexA and Tet repressor, cooperate with an adjacently binding endogenous activator protein, Gcn4, to coactivate expression of chromosomal reporter genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Coactivation requires that the cooperating target sites be within a nucleosome-length distance; it leads to increased occupancy by Gcn4 at its binding site; and it requires both Gcn5 and Swi/Snf which, at an endogenous Gcn4-dependent promoter, act subsequent to Gcn4 binding. These results imply that collaborative competition contributes to gene regulation in vivo. They further imply that, even in the presence of the cell's full wild-type complement of chromatin remodeling factors, competition of regulatory proteins with histone octamer for access to regulatory target sites remains a quantitative determinant of gene expression levels. We speculate that initial target site recognition and binding may occur via spontaneous nucleosomal site exposure, with remodeling factor action required downstream to lock in higher levels of regulatory protein occupancy.

Protein-protein interaction map for yeast TFIID

A major rate-limiting step in transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II is recognition and binding of the TATA element by the transcription factor TFIID. TFIID is composed of TATA binding protein (TBP) and approximately a dozen TBP-associated factors (TAFs). Emerging consensus regarding the role of TAFs is that TFIID assumes a gene specific activity that is regulated by interaction with other factors. In spite of many studies demonstrating the essential nature of TAFs in transcription, very little is known about the subunit contacts within TFIID. To understand fully the functional role of TAFs, it is imperative to define TAF-TAF interactions and their topological arrangement within TFIID. We performed a systematic two-hybrid analysis using the 13 essential TAFs of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae TFIID complex and TBP. Specific interactions were defined for each component, and the biological significance of these interactions is supported by numerous genetic and biochemical studies. By combining the interaction profiles presented here, and the available studies utilizing specific TAFs, we propose a working hypothesis for the arrangement of components in the TFIID complex. Thus, these results serve as a foundation for understanding the overall architecture of yeast TFIID.

Design and function of transcriptional switches in Drosophila

Extensive genetic and biochemical analysis of Drosophila melanogaster has made this system an important model for characterization of transcriptional regulatory elements and factors. Given the striking conservation of transcriptional controls in metazoans, general principles derived from studies of Drosophila are expected to continue to illuminate transcriptional regulation in other systems, including vertebrates. With improvement in technologies for genetic manipulation of insects, research in Drosophila will also aid the design of systems for controlled expression of genes in other hosts. This review focuses on recent advances from Drosophila in analysis of the functional components of transcriptional switches, including basal promoters, enhancers, boundary elements, and maintenance elements.

Primer on medical genomics part II: Background principles and methods in molecular genetics

The nucleus of every human cell contains the full complement of the human genome, which consists of approximately 30,000 to 70,000 named and unnamed genes and many intergenic DNA sequences. The double-helical DNA molecule in a human cell, associated with special proteins, is highly compacted into 22 pairs of autosomal chromosomes and an additional pair of sex chromosomes. The entire cellular DNA consists of approximately 3 billion base pairs, of which only 1% is thought to encode a functional protein or a polypeptide. Genetic information is expressed and regulated through a complex system of DNA transcription, RNA processing, RNA translation, and posttranslational and cotranslational modification of proteins. Advances in molecular biology techniques have allowed accurate and rapid characterization of DNA sequences as well as identification and quantification of cellular RNA and protein. Global analytic methods and human genetic mapping are expected to accelerate the process of identification and localization of disease genes. In this second part of an educational series in medical genomics, selected principles and methods in molecular biology are recapped, with the intent to prepare the reader for forthcoming articles with a more direct focus on aspects of the subject matter.

Gal4-VP16 and Gal4-AH increase the orientational and axial specificity of TATA box recognition by TATA box binding protein

Previous work has shown that binding of the TATA box binding protein (TBP) to the TATA box is a rate-limiting step during pre-initiation complex (PIC) formation. Although the transcription of eukaryotic genes normally proceeds in one direction, studies in solution have shown that TBP lacks the information necessary to orient itself on the TATA box. Instead, yeast TBP binds TATA-containing promoters in two orientations that are related by a 180 rotation about TBP's pseudo-2-fold symmetry axis. Recruitment of PIC components by gene-specific activators is considered a primary mechanism of transcriptional enhancement. Here we ask whether activators might function, at least in part, by increasing the fraction of PICs assembled with TBP bound in the orientation necessary for transcription. We use DNA affinity cleavage and a TBP-phenanthroline-copper conjugate to monitor the orientation of TBP in the presence of the well-studied activators Gal4-VP16 and Gal4-AH. In the absence of a transcriptional activator, only 51% of the TBP x TATA box complexes were bound in the orientation necessary for the initiation of transcription. However, in the presence of saturating Gal4-VP16, 87% of the TBP bound to the TATA box was oriented correctly at equilibrium. This increase in orientational specificity corresponds to a free energy difference (Delta Delta G(obs)) of 1.1 kcal x mol(-1) and was accompanied by a dramatic increase in axial specificity, reminiscent of the effects of transcription factors TFIIB and TFIIA reported previously. Gal4-AH also enhanced the orientational and axial specificity of the TBP x TATA complex, although to a lesser extent. We suggest that these effects on specificity represent a variation of recruitment, since they require direct interactions between the activator and a PIC component but only increase the effective concentration of the correctly oriented PIC component. These findings add to increasing evidence that recruitment may encompass a broad range of mechanisms.

The RNA polymerase II machinery: structure illuminates function

Essential components of the eukaryotic transcription apparatus include RNA polymerase II, a common set of initiation factors, and a Mediator complex that transmits regulatory information to the enzyme. Insights into mechanisms of transcription have been gained by three-dimensional structures for many of these factors and their complexes, especially for yeast RNA polymerase II at atomic resolution.

In vitro transcription of a torsionally constrained template

RNA polymerase (RNAP) and the DNA template must rotate relative to each other during transcription elongation. In the cell, however, the components of the transcription apparatus may be subject to rotary constraints. For instance, the DNA is divided into topological domains that are delineated by rotary locked boundaries. Furthermore, RNAPs may be located in factories or attached to matrix sites limiting or prohibiting rotation. Indeed, the nascent RNA alone has been implicated in rotary constraining RNAP. Here we have investigated the consequences of rotary constraints during transcription of torsionally constrained DNA by free RNAP. We asked whether or not a newly synthesized RNA chain would limit transcription elongation. For this purpose we developed a method to immobilize covalently closed circular DNA to streptavidin-coated beads via a peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-biotin conjugate in principle mimicking a SAR/MAR attachment. We used this construct as a torsionally constrained template for transcription of the beta-lactamase gene by Escherichia coli RNAP and found that RNA synthesis displays similar characteristics in terms of rate of elongation whether or not the template is torsionally constrained. We conclude that transcription of a natural bacterial gene may proceed with high efficiency despite the fact that newly synthesized RNA is entangled around the template in the narrow confines of torsionally constrained supercoiled DNA.

Interaction between P-TEFb and the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II activates transcriptional elongation from sites upstream or downstream of target genes

Transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is regulated by the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb). P-TEFb is composed of Cdk9 and C-type cyclin T1 (CycT1), CycT2a, CycT2b, or CycK. The role of the C-terminal region of CycT1 and CycT2 remains unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that these sequences are essential for the activation of transcription by P-TEFb via DNA, i.e., when CycT1 is tethered upstream or downstream of promoters and coding sequences. A histidine-rich stretch, which is conserved between CycT1 and CycT2 in this region, bound the C-terminal domain of RNAPII. This binding was required for the subsequent expression of full-length transcripts from target genes. Thus, P-TEFb could mediate effects of enhancers on the elongation of transcription.

BRFU, a TFIIB-like factor, is directly recruited to the TATA-box of polymerase III small nuclear RNA gene promoters through its interaction with TATA-binding protein

The human snRNA genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II (pol II) and III (pol III) have different core promoter elements. Both gene types contain similar proximal sequence elements (PSEs) but differ in the absence (pol II) or presence (pol III) of a TATA-box, which, together with the PSE, determines the assembly of a pol III-specific pre-initiation complex. BRFU is a factor exclusively required for transcription of the pol III-type snRNA genes. We report that recruitment of BRFU to the TATA-box of these promoters is TATA-binding protein (TBP)-dependent. BRFU in turn stabilizes TBP on TATA-containing template and extends the TBP footprint both upstream and downstream of the TATA element. The core domain of TBP is sufficient for BRFU.TBP.DNA complex formation and for interaction with BRFU off the template. We have mapped amino acid residues within TBP and domains of BRFU that mediate this interaction. BRFU has no specificity for sequences flanking the TATA-box and also forms a stable complex on the TATA-box of the pol II-specific adenovirus major late promoter (AdMLP). Furthermore, pol III-type transcription can initiate from an snRNA gene promoter containing an AdMLP TATA-box and flanking sequences. Therefore, the polymerase recruitment is not simply determined by the sequence of the TATA-box and immediate flanking sequences.

Optimization of a versatile in vitro transcription assay for the expression of multiple start site TATA-less promoters

Previous work from our laboratory has allowed for the subdivision of RNA polymerase II TATA-less promoters into two classes: those that initiate at a single start site (SSS) and those that initiate at multiple start sites (MSS). MSS promoters are defined by the lack of a TATA box and the presence of a transcription initiation window and a downstream MED-1 element (GCTCCC/G) [Ince, T. A., and Scotto, K. W. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 30249-30252]. Further insight into the mechanisms regulating TATA-less MSS promoters has been hampered by the lack of an in vitro transcription assay in which multiple start sites can be reproduced. In the present study, we describe the development of a versatile in vitro transcription system optimized for the expression of MSS promoters, termed the multiple promoter comparison (MPC) assay. By alteration of assay parameters including template length, cation and nucleotide concentrations, and RNA isolation method, the accurate and robust transcription of two MSS promoters, pgp1 (hamster P-glycoprotein class I homologue) and HPRT (human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase), was accomplished. Moreover, both TATA-containing and TATA-less single start site promoters were also transcribed in the MPC assay, making this the first general in vitro transcription system for the simultaneous analysis of all three classes of RNA polymerase II genes.

Widespread use of TATA elements in the core promoters for RNA polymerases III, II, and I in fission yeast

In addition to directing transcription initiation, core promoters integrate input from distal regulatory elements. Except for rare exceptions, it has been generally found that eukaryotic tRNA and rRNA genes do not contain TATA promoter elements and instead use protein-protein interactions to bring the TATA-binding protein (TBP), to the core promoter. Genomewide analysis revealed TATA elements in the core promoters of tRNA and 5S rRNA (Pol III), U1 to U5 snRNA (Pol II), and 37S rRNA (Pol I) genes in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Using tRNA-dependent suppression and other in vivo assays, as well as in vitro transcription, we demonstrated an obligatory requirement for upstream TATA elements for tRNA and 5S rRNA expression in S. pombe. The Pol III initiation factor Brf is found in complexes with TFIIIC and Pol III in S. pombe, while TBP is not, consistent with independent recruitment of TBP by TATA. Template commitment assays are consistent with this and confirm that the mechanisms of transcription complex assembly and initiation by Pol III in S. pombe differ substantially from those in other model organisms. The results were extended to large-rRNA synthesis, as mutation of the TATA element in the Pol I promoter also abolishes rRNA expression in fission yeast. A survey of other organisms' genomes reveals that a substantial number of eukaryotes may use widespread TATAs for transcription. These results indicate the presence of TATA-unified transcription systems in contemporary eukaryotes and provide insight into the residual need for TBP by all three Pols in other eukaryotes despite a lack of TATA elements in their promoters.

In vitro analysis of transcriptional repression of the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter

Transcription of the proviral DNA of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is induced by several classes of hormone-activated steroid receptor proteins. Basal promoter activity in the absence of receptor-mediated activation is selectively repressed by a distal negative regulatory element (dNRE) centered approximately 400 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site. An in vitro transcription system based on synthetic T-free cassette templates was developed to assess MMTV promoter activity, and dNRE-mediated repression was partially reconstituted with this system. Repression was observed with templates in which the dNRE was present in several sequence contexts. The activity of transcription preinitiation complexes formed in vitro in the presence of the dNRE could not be distinguished from that of complexes formed in its absence as assessed by the kinetics of transcript accumulation after addition of nucleoside triphosphates to preformed preinitiation complexes. dNRE-mediated repression in vitro appeared to be the result of decreased efficiency of assembly of functional transcription complexes on the MMTV promoter. However, repression could not be explained by inhibition of assembly of TATA-binding protein or transcription factor IIB into transcription complexes, as neither protein decreased the extent of repression when supplied in excess as a purified recombinant protein.

Reciprocity between O-GlcNAc and O-phosphate on the carboxyl terminal domain of RNA polymerase II

The carboxyl terminal domain of RNA polymerase II has multiple essential roles in transcription initiation, promoter clearance, transcript elongation, and the recruitment of the RNA processing machinery. Specific phosphorylation events are associated with the spatial and temporal coordination of these different activities. The CTD is also modified by beta-O-linked GlcNAc on a subset of RNA Pol II molecules. Using synthetic CTD substrates, we show here that O-GlcNAc and phosphate modification of the CTD are mutually exclusive at the level of the enzymes responsible for their addition. In addition, we show that O-GlcNAc transferase and CTD kinase have different CTD repeat requirements for enzymatic activity. The Km values of the two enzymes for CTD substrates are in a similar range, indicating that neither enzyme has a distinct kinetic advantage. Thus, the in vivo regulation of O-GlcNAc and phosphate modification of the CTD may involve the differential association of these two enzymes with the CTD at specific stages during the transcription cycle. Furthermore, direct competition between OGT and CTD kinase in vivo could generate multiple functionally distinct isoforms of RNA Pol II. Taken together, these results suggest that O-GlcNAc may give rise to additional functional states of RNA Pol II and may coordinate with phosphorylation to regulate class II gene transcription.

Dissociable Rpb4-Rpb7 subassembly of rna polymerase II binds to single-strand nucleic acid and mediates a post-recruitment step in transcription initiation

The Rpb4 and Rpb7 subunits of yeast RNA polymerase II form a heterodimeric complex essential for promoter-directed transcription initiation in a reconstituted system. Results of template competition experiments indicate that the Rpb4-Rpb7 complex is not required for stable recruitment of polymerase to active preinitiation complexes, suggesting that Rpb4-Rpb7 mediates an essential step subsequent to promoter binding. Sequence and structure-based alignments revealed a possible OB-fold single-strand nucleic acid-binding motif in Rpb7. Purified Rpb4-Rpb7 complex exhibited both single-strand DNA- and RNA-binding activities, and a small deletion in the putative OB-fold nucleic acid-binding surface of Rpb7 abolished binding activity without affecting the stability of the Rpb4-Rpb7 complex or its ability to associate with polymerase. The same mutation destroyed the transcription activity of the Rpb4-Rpb7 complex. A separate deletion elsewhere in the OB-fold motif of Rpb7 also blocked transcription but did not affect nucleic acid binding, suggesting that the OB-fold of Rpb7 mediates both DNA-protein and protein-protein interactions required for productive initiation.

Mutations in the TATA-binding protein, affecting transcriptional activation, show synthetic lethality with the TAF145 gene lacking the TAF N-terminal domain in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The general transcription factor TFIID, which is composed of the TATA box-binding protein (TBP) and a set of TBP-associated factors (TAFs), is crucial for both basal and regulated transcription by RNA polymerase II. The N-terminal small segment of yeast TAF145 (yTAF145) binds to TBP and thereby inhibits TBP function. To understand the physiological role of this inhibitory domain, which is designated as TAND (TAF N-terminal domain), we screened mutations, synthetically lethal with the TAF145 gene lacking TAND (taf145 Delta TAND), in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by exploiting a red/white colony-sectoring assay. Our screen yielded several recessive nsl (Delta TAND synthetic lethal) mutations, two of which, nsl1-1 and nsl1-2, define the same complementation group. The NSL1 gene was found to be identical to the SPT15 gene encoding TBP. Interestingly, both temperature-sensitive nsl1/spt15 alleles, which harbor the single amino acid substitutions, S118L and P65S, respectively, were defective in transcriptional activation in vivo. Several other previously characterized activation-deficient spt15 alleles also displayed synthetic lethal interactions with taf145 Delta TAND, indicating that TAND and TBP carry an overlapping but as yet unidentified function that is specifically required for transcriptional regulation.

PPB1, a putative spliced leader RNA gene transcription factor in Trypanosoma cruzi

In trypanosomatids, the spliced leader RNA, or SL RNA, donates its 5' 39 nucleotides to mature nuclear mRNAs in a process termed trans-splicing. We have previously characterized the SL RNA gene from Trypanosoma cruzi and identified its transcription promoter, including a 14 nt proximal sequence element, or PSE, that binds a putative transcription factor and activates transcription of the gene. Herein, we describe establishment of a yeast one-hybrid system using the 14 nt PSE as bait, and use this system to select T. cruzi cDNAs encoding a putative transcription factor that activates transcription of the SL RNA gene. The cDNA was selected from a normalized library and encodes an approximately 45 kDa putative PSE promoter-binding protein, PPB1. PPB1 in vitro translated or overexpressed in and isolated from transformed E. coli, showed PSE-specific binding activity by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Finally, overexpression of PPB1 in T. cruzi led to increased expression of the SL RNA gene as well as reporter genes in episomal constructs under the control of the SL RNA gene promoter. These observations suggest that PPB1 is a transcription factor that plays an important role in SL RNA gene expression.

Rapid speciation via parallel, directional selection on regulatory genetic pathways

Regulatory genetic pathways are ubiquitous in organisms and play a central role in the realization of the phenotype during development. We explored the proposition that these pathways can provide a plausible source of the epistatic variation that has been implicated in the evolution of postzygotic reproductive isolation. We modeled gene regulation as a matching function between the product of one locus and the promoter site of the next locus in the pathway, with binding strength determining the amount of product. When the phenotype is subject to parallel selection in a pair of independent populations, we find that the fitnesses of F(1)and F(2)hybrids often drop to very low values as the populations respond in genetically different and incompatible ways. The simulations support the predictions of the analytical models. Hybrid fitness reduction occurs more often as the number of loci in the pathway increases, and as the binding site interactions become more complex. Less hybrid fitness reduction is seen when the populations start with imperfect binding in the pathway. In contrast, when we constructed the phenotype without gene regulation using multiplicative rules, isomorphic to the additive phenotype commonly assumed in evolutionary models, we found no appreciable F(1)fitness reduction and only slight F(2)fitness reduction. The interaction of genetic drift and mutation, even at very high rates, did not reduce hybrid fitness at all on the time-scales we considered. Clearly, the evolution of regulatory genetic pathways can play an important role in speciation, but much more empirical information is needed on the effect of allelic variability in regulatory site interactions before this role is fully understood.

Purification and enzymic properties of Mot1 ATPase, a regulator of basal transcription in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The 1867-residue Mot1 protein is a member of a superfamily of ATPases, some of which are helicases, that interact with protein-nucleic acid assemblies. Mot1 is an essential regulator of RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription in vivo and dissociates TATA box-binding protein (TBP)-DNA complexes in vitro. Mot1-(His)(6) was purified to apparent homogeneity from yeast extracts. The preparation efficiently dissociated TBP.TATA complexes, suggesting that no other protein or cofactor is required. Mot1 behaved as a non-globular monomer in hydrodynamic studies, and no association was detected between differentially tagged co-expressed Mot1 constructs. ATPase activity was stimulated about 10-fold by high ionic strength or alkaline pH, or by deletion of the N-terminal TBP-binding segment, suggesting that the N-terminal domain negatively regulates the C-terminal ATPase domain (Mot1C). Correspondingly, at moderate salt concentration, Mot1 ATPase (but not Mot1C) was stimulated >/=10-fold by yeast TBP, suggesting that interaction with TBP relieves a conformational constraint in Mot1. Double- or single-stranded TATA-containing DNA did not affect ATPase activity of Mot1 or Mot1C, with or without TBP. Mot1 did not exhibit detectable helicase activity in strand displacement assays using substrates with flush ends or 5'- or 3'-overhangs. Mot1-catalyzed dissociation of TBP from DNA was not prevented by a psoralen cross-link positioned immediately preceding the TATA sequence. Thus, Mot1 most likely promotes release of TBP from TATA-containing DNA by causing a structural change in TBP itself, rather than by strand unwinding.

Mechanism of ATP-dependent promoter melting by transcription factor IIH

We show that transcription factor IIH ERCC3 subunit, the DNA helicase responsible for adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent promoter melting during transcription initiation, does not interact with the promoter region that undergoes melting but instead interacts with DNA downstream of this region. We show further that promoter melting does not change protein-DNA interactions upstream of the region that undergoes melting but does change interactions within and downstream of this region. Our results rule out the proposal that IIH functions in promoter melting through a conventional DNA-helicase mechanism. We propose that IIH functions as a molecular wrench: rotating downstream DNA relative to fixed upstream protein-DNA interactions, thereby generating torque on, and melting, the intervening DNA.

The sensitivity of RNA polymerase II in elongation complexes to C-terminal domain phosphatase

The phosphorylation state of the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest RNA polymerase (RNAP) II subunit plays an important role in the regulation of transcript elongation. This report examines the sensitivity of RNAP II to dephosphorylation by CTD phosphatase (CTDP) and addresses factors that regulate its sensitivity. The CTDP sensitivity of RNAP IIO in paused elongation complexes on a dC-tailed template does not significantly differ from that of free RNAP IIO. RNAP IIO contained in elongation complexes that initiate transcription from the adenovirus-2 major late promoter in the presence of a nuclear extract is relatively resistant to dephosphorylation. Complexes treated with 1% Sarkosyl remain elongation-competent but demonstrate a 5-fold increase in CTDP sensitivity. Furthermore, the sensitivity of RNAP IIO in both control and Sarkosyl-treated elongation complexes is dependent on their position relative to the start site of transcription. Elongation complexes 11-24 nucleotides downstream are more sensitive to dephosphorylation than complexes 50-150 nucleotides downstream. The incubation of Sarkosyl-treated elongation complexes with nuclear extract restores the original resistance to dephosphorylation. These results suggest that a conformational change occurs in RNAP II as it clears the promoter, which results in an increased resistance to dephosphorylation. Furthermore, the sensitivity to dephosphorylation can be modulated by a factor(s) present in the nuclear extract.