FCP1, a phosphatase specific for the heptapeptide repeat of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, stimulates transcription elongation

Impact of Protein Phosphatase Expressions on the Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

The study was conducted to unveil the significance of protein phosphatases in the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and its related molecular biological attributes as well as to discover novel potential biomarkers for therapeutic significance and diagnostic purposes that may benefit clinical practice. Analyzing a data set from 159 HCC patients using high-throughput phosphoproteomics, we examined the dysregulated expression of protein phosphatases. Employing bioinformatic and pathway analyses, we explored differentially expressed genes linked to protein phosphatases. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes/proteins database. We quantified a total of 11,547 phosphorylation sites associated with 4043 phosphoproteins from HCC patients. Within this data set, we identified 105 identified phosphorylation sites associated with protein phosphatases; 28 genes were upregulated and 3 were downregulated in HCC. Enriched pathways using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis encompassed oocyte meiosis, proteoglycans in cancer, the oxytocin signaling pathway, the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, the vascular smooth muscle, and the cAMP signaling pathway. The Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis highlighted pathways like mitogen-activated protein kinase, AMPK, and PI3K-Akt, indicating potential involvement in HCC progression. Notably, the PPI network identified hub genes, emphasizing their interconnections and potential roles in HCC. In our study, we found significantly upregulated levels of CDC25C, PPP1R13L, and PPP1CA, which emerge as promising avenues. This significant expression could serve as potent diagnostic and prognostic markers to enhance the effectiveness of HCC cancer treatment, offering efficiency and accuracy in patient assessment. The findings regarding protein phosphatases reveal their elevated expression in HCC, correlating with unfavorable prognosis. Moreover, the outcomes of gene ontology and KEGG pathway analyses suggest that protein phosphatases may influence liver cancer by engaging diverse targets and pathways, ultimately fostering the progression of HCC. These results underscore the substantial potential of protein phosphatases as key contributors to HCC's development and advancement. This insight holds promise for identifying therapeutic targets and charting research avenues to enhance the comprehension of the intricate molecular mechanisms underpinning HCC.

Functional diversity of Medicago truncatula RNA polymerase II CTD phosphatase isoforms produced in the Arabidopsis thaliana superexpression platform

Medicago truncatula is a model system for legume plants, which has substantially expanded the genome relative to the prototypical model dicot plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. An essential transcriptional regulator, FCP1 (transcription factor IIF-interacting RNA polymerase II carboxyl-terminal phosphatase 1) ortholog, is encoded by a single essential gene CPL4 (CTD-phosphatase-like 4), whereas M. truncatula genome contains four genes homologous to FCP1/AtCPL4, and splicing variants of MtCPL4 are observed. Functional diversification of MtCPL4 family proteins was analyzed using recombinant proteins (MtCPL4a1, MtCPL4a2, and MtCPL4b) produced in Arabidopsis cell culture system developed for plant protein overexpression. In vitro CTD phosphatase assay using highly purified MtCPL4 preparations revealed a potent CTD phosphatase activity in MtCPL4b, but not two splicing variants of MtCPL4a. On the other hand, in planta binding assay to RNA polymerase II (pol II) revealed a greater pol II-binding activity of both MtCPL4a variants. Our results indicate functional diversification of MtCPL4 isoforms and suggest the presence of a large number of functionally specialized CTD-phosphatase-like proteins in plants.

A transcriptionally repressed quiescence program is associated with paused RNAPII and is poised for cell cycle reentry

Adult stem cells persist in mammalian tissues by entering a state of reversible quiescence/ G0, associated with low transcription. Using cultured myoblasts and muscle stem cells, we report that in G0, global RNA content and synthesis are substantially repressed, correlating with decreased RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) expression and activation. Integrating RNAPII occupancy and transcriptome profiling, we identify repressed networks and a role for promoter-proximal RNAPII pausing in G0. Strikingly, RNAPII shows enhanced pausing in G0 on repressed genes encoding regulators of RNA biogenesis (Nucleolin, Rps24, Ctdp1); release of pausing is associated with their increased expression in G1. Knockdown of these transcripts in proliferating cells leads to induction of G0 markers, confirming the importance of their repression in establishment of G0. A targeted screen of RNAPII regulators revealed that knockdown of Aff4 (positive regulator of elongation) unexpectedly enhances expression of G0-stalled genes and hastens S phase; NELF, a regulator of pausing appears to be dispensable. We propose that RNAPII pausing contributes to transcriptional control of a subset of G0-repressed genes to maintain quiescence and impacts the timing of the G0-G1 transition.

Protein phosphatases in the RNAPII transcription cycle: erasers, sculptors, gatekeepers, and potential drug targets

In this review, Cossa et al. discuss the current knowledge and outstanding questions about phosphatases in the context of the RNAPII transcription cycle.

The transcription cycle of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is governed at multiple points by opposing actions of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and protein phosphatases, in a process with similarities to the cell division cycle. While important roles of the kinases have been established, phosphatases have emerged more slowly as key players in transcription, and large gaps remain in understanding of their precise functions and targets. Much of the earlier work focused on the roles and regulation of sui generis and often atypical phosphatases—FCP1, Rtr1/RPAP2, and SSU72—with seemingly dedicated functions in RNAPII transcription. Decisive roles in the transcription cycle have now been uncovered for members of the major phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPP) family, including PP1, PP2A, and PP4—abundant enzymes with pleiotropic roles in cellular signaling pathways. These phosphatases appear to act principally at the transitions between transcription cycle phases, ensuring fine control of elongation and termination. Much is still unknown, however, about the division of labor among the PPP family members, and their possible regulation by or of the transcriptional kinases. CDKs active in transcription have recently drawn attention as potential therapeutic targets in cancer and other diseases, raising the prospect that the phosphatases might also present opportunities for new drug development. Here we review the current knowledge and outstanding questions about phosphatases in the context of the RNAPII transcription cycle.

RNA polymerase II phosphorylation and gene looping: new roles for the Rpb4/7 heterodimer in regulating gene expression

In eukaryotes, cellular RNAs are produced by three nuclear RNA polymerases (RNAPI, II, and III), which are multisubunit complexes. They share structural and functional features, although they are specialized in the synthesis of specific RNAs. RNAPII transcribes the vast majority of cellular RNAs, including mRNAs and a large number of noncoding RNAs. The structure of RNAPII is highly conserved in all eukaryotes, consisting of 12 subunits (Rpb1-12) organized into five structural modules, among which the Rpb4 and Rpb7 subunits form the stalk. Early studies suggested an accessory role for Rpb4, because is required for specific gene transcription pathways. Far from this initial hypothesis, it is now well established that the Rpb4/7 heterodimer plays much wider roles in gene expression regulation. It participates in nuclear and cytosolic processes ranging from transcription to translation and mRNA degradation in a cyclical process. For this reason, Rpb4/7 is considered a coordinator of gene expression. New functions have been added to the list of stalk functions during transcription, which will be reviewed herein: first, a role in the maintenance of proper RNAPII phosphorylation levels, and second, a role in the establishment of a looped gene architecture in actively transcribed genes.

Targeting the C-Terminal Domain Small Phosphatase 1

The human C-terminal domain small phosphatase 1 (CTDSP1/SCP1) is a protein phosphatase with a conserved catalytic site of DXDXT/V. CTDSP1’s major activity has been identified as dephosphorylation of the 5th Ser residue of the tandem heptad repeat of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain (RNAP II CTD). It is also implicated in various pivotal biological activities, such as acting as a driving factor in repressor element 1 (RE-1)-silencing transcription factor (REST) complex, which silences the neuronal genes in non-neuronal cells, G1/S phase transition, and osteoblast differentiation. Recent findings have denoted that negative regulation of CTDSP1 results in suppression of cancer invasion in neuroglioma cells. Several researchers have focused on the development of regulating materials of CTDSP1, due to the significant roles it has in various biological activities. In this review, we focused on this emerging target and explored the biological significance, challenges, and opportunities in targeting CTDSP1 from a drug designing perspective.

Serine-Phosphorylated STAT3 Promotes Tumorigenesis via Modulation of RNA Polymerase Transcriptional Activity

Deregulated activation of the latent oncogenic transcription factor STAT3 in many human epithelial malignancies, including gastric cancer, has invariably been associated with its canonical tyrosine phosphorylation and enhanced transcriptional activity. By contrast, serine phosphorylation (pS) of STAT3 can augment its nuclear transcriptional activity and promote essential mitochondrial functions, yet the role of pS-STAT3 among epithelial cancers is ill-defined. Here, we reveal that genetic ablation of pS-STAT3 in the gp130 ^F/F spontaneous gastric cancer mouse model and human gastric cancer cell line xenografts abrogated tumor growth that coincided with reduced proliferative potential of the tumor epithelium. Microarray gene expression profiling demonstrated that the suppressed gastric tumorigenesis in pS-STAT3-deficient gp130 ^F/F mice associated with reduced transcriptional activity of STAT3-regulated gene networks implicated in cell proliferation and migration, inflammation, and angiogenesis, but not mitochondrial function or metabolism. Notably, the protumorigenic activity of pS-STAT3 aligned with its capacity to primarily augment RNA polymerase II-mediated transcriptional elongation, but not initiation, of STAT3 target genes. Furthermore, by using a combinatorial in vitro and in vivo proteomics approach based on the rapid immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry of endogenous protein (RIME) assay, we identified RuvB-like AAA ATPase 1 (RUVBL1/Pontin) and enhancer of rudimentary homolog (ERH) as interacting partners of pS-STAT3 that are pivotal for its transcriptional activity on STAT3 target genes. Collectively, these findings uncover a hitherto unknown transcriptional role and obligate requirement for pS-STAT3 in gastric cancer that could be extrapolated to other STAT3-driven cancers. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings reveal a new transcriptional role and mandatory requirement for constitutive STAT3 serine phosphorylation in gastric cancer.

Centromere and Pericentromere Transcription: Roles and Regulation … in Sickness and in Health

The chromosomal loci known as centromeres (CEN) mediate the equal distribution of the duplicated genome between both daughter cells. Specifically, centromeres recruit a protein complex named the kinetochore, that bi-orients the replicated chromosome pairs to the mitotic or meiotic spindle structure. The paired chromosomes are then separated, and the individual chromosomes segregate in opposite direction along the regressing spindle into each daughter cell. Erroneous kinetochore assembly or activity produces aneuploid cells that contain an abnormal number of chromosomes. Aneuploidy may incite cell death, developmental defects (including genetic syndromes), and cancer (>90% of all cancer cells are aneuploid). While kinetochores and their activities have been preserved through evolution, the CEN DNA sequences have not. Hence, to be recognized as sites for kinetochore assembly, CEN display conserved structural themes. In addition, CEN nucleosomes enclose a CEN-exclusive variant of histone H3, named CENP-A, and carry distinct epigenetic labels on CENP-A and the other CEN histone proteins. Through the cell cycle, CEN are transcribed into non-coding RNAs. After subsequent processing, they become key components of the CEN chromatin by marking the CEN locus and by stably anchoring the CEN-binding kinetochore proteins. CEN transcription is tightly regulated, of low intensity, and essential for differentiation and development. Under- or overexpression of CEN transcripts, as documented for myriad cancers, provoke chromosome missegregation and aneuploidy. CEN are genetically stable and fully competent only when they are insulated from the surrounding, pericentromeric chromatin, which must be silenced. We will review CEN transcription and its contribution to faithful kinetochore function. We will further discuss how pericentromeric chromatin is silenced by RNA processing and transcriptionally repressive chromatin marks. We will report on the transcriptional misregulation of (peri)centromeres during stress, natural aging, and disease and reflect on whether their transcripts can serve as future diagnostic tools and anti-cancer targets in the clinic.

Identification of Novel Biomarkers for Behcet Disease Diagnosis Using Human Proteome Microarray Approach

Behcet disease (BD) is a chronic systemic vasculitis and considered as an autoimmune disease. Although rare, BD can be fatal due to ruptured vascular aneurysms or severe neurological complications. To date, no known biomarker has been reported for this disease, making it difficult to diagnosis in the clinics. To undertake this challenge, we employed the HuProt arrays, each comprised of ∼20,000 unique human proteins, to identify BD-specific autoantibodies using a Two-Phase strategy established previously. In Phase I, we profiled the autoimmunity on the HuProt arrays with 75 serum samples collected from 40 BD patients, 15 diagnosed autoimmune patients who suffer from Takayasu arteritis (TA; n = 5)), ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV; n = 5), and Sjogren's syndrome (SS; n = 5), and 20 healthy subjects, and identified 20 candidate autoantigens that were significantly associated with BD. To validate these candidates, in Phase II we constructed a focused array with these 20 candidate BD-associated antigens, and use it to profile a much larger cohort, comprised of serum samples collected from 130 BD patients, 103 autoimmune patients (i.e. 40TA, 40 AAV and 23 SS), and 110 healthy controls. This allowed us to validate CTDP1 (RNA polymerase II subunit A C-terminal domain phosphatase)as a BD-specific autoantigen. The association of anti-CTDP1 with BD patients was further validated using the traditional Western blotting analysis. In conclusion, anti-CTDP1 antibody serves a novel autoantibody for Behcet disease and is expected to help more accurate clinical diagnosis.

Lentivirus-mediated knockdown of CTDP1 inhibits lung cancer cell growth in vitro

BACKGROUND

CTDP1 catalyzes serine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the mobile carboxy-terminal domain of the RNA polymerase II. It is conserved among eukarya and is essential for cell growth for its ability in regulation of transcription machinery. However, its function in the process of tumorigenesis is unclear. In the present study, we aim to explore the roles of CTDP1 in the progression of human lung cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first study that reports the functions of CTDP1 in human lung cancer.

METHODS

We first detected the expression level of CTDP1 in four human lung cancer cell lines: H-125, H1299, LTEP-A-2 and NCI-H446 by semiquantitative RT-PCR. We compared the expression level of CTDP1 in lung cancer tissues and paired adjacent normal tissues on 29 pathologically confirmed patients by real-time quantitative PCR. To further explore the effect of CTDP1 on cell proliferation, a lentiviral vector expressing CTDP1 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was constructed and infected into human lung cell lines H1299. Interference efficiency was determined by western blot analysis and real-time quantitative PCR. The effects of knockdown of CTDP1 on cell growth, cell cycle and apoptosis and cell colony formation were explored by Cellomics, fluorescence-activated cells sorting and fluorescence microscopy, respectively.

RESULTS

CTDP1 was expressed in all four human lung cancer cell lines. The expression of CTDP1 in tumor tissues was significantly higher than paired adjacent normal tissues in 29 patients with lung cancer. The expression of CTDP1 was markedly reduced in cells infected with lentivirus delivering shRNA against CTDP1. Inhibition of CTDP1 expression significantly suppressed cell growth, induced G0/G1 phase arrest and repressed cell colony formation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that CTDP1 was upregulated in human lung cancer tissues. In addition, it implied that CTDP1 played an important role in cell proliferation and may be a useful therapeutic target in human lung cancer.

Dephosphorylating eukaryotic RNA polymerase II

The phosphorylation state of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II is required for the temporal and spatial recruitment of various factors that mediate transcription and RNA processing throughout the transcriptional cycle. Therefore, changes in CTD phosphorylation by site-specific kinases/phosphatases are critical for the accurate transmission of information during transcription. Unlike kinases, CTD phosphatases have been traditionally neglected as they are thought to act as passive negative regulators that remove all phosphate marks at the conclusion of transcription. This over-simplified view has been disputed in recent years and new data assert the active and regulatory role phosphatases play in transcription. We now know that CTD phosphatases ensure the proper transition between different stages of transcription, balance the distribution of phosphorylation for accurate termination and re-initiation, and prevent inappropriate expression of certain genes. In this review, we focus on the specific roles of CTD phosphatases in regulating transcription. In particular, we emphasize how specificity and timing of dephosphorylation are achieved for these phosphatases and consider the various regulatory factors that affect these dynamics.

Acute hypoxia affects P-TEFb through HDAC3 and HEXIM1-dependent mechanism to promote gene-specific transcriptional repression

Hypoxia is associated with a variety of physiological and pathological conditions and elicits specific transcriptional responses. The elongation competence of RNA Polymerase II is regulated by the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb)-dependent phosphorylation of Ser2 residues on its C-terminal domain. Here, we report that hypoxia inhibits transcription at the level of elongation. The mechanism involves enhanced formation of inactive complex of P-TEFb with its inhibitor HEXIM1 in an HDAC3-dependent manner. Microarray transcriptome profiling of hypoxia primary response genes identified ∼79% of these genes being HEXIM1-dependent. Hypoxic repression of P-TEFb was associated with reduced acetylation of its Cdk9 and Cyclin T1 subunits. Hypoxia caused nuclear translocation and co-localization of the Cdk9 and HDAC3/N-CoR repressor complex. We demonstrated that the described mechanism is involved in hypoxic repression of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) gene. Thus, HEXIM1 and HDAC-dependent deacetylation of Cdk9 and Cyclin T1 in response to hypoxia signalling alters the P-TEFb functional equilibrium, resulting in repression of transcription.

Rat1p maintains RNA polymerase II CTD phosphorylation balance

In S. cerevisiae, the 5'-3' exonuclease Rat1p partakes in transcription termination. Although Rat1p-mediated RNA degradation has been suggested to play a role for this activity, the exact mechanisms by which Rat1p helps release RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) from the DNA template are poorly understood. Here we describe a function of Rat1p in regulating phosphorylation levels of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest RNAPII subunit, Rpb1p, during transcription elongation. The rat1-1 mutant exhibits highly elevated levels of CTD phosphorylation as well as RNAPII distribution and transcription termination defects. These phenotypes are all rescued by overexpression of the CTD phosphatase Fcp1p, suggesting a functional relationship between the absence of Rat1p activity, elevated CTD phosphorylation, and transcription defects. We also demonstrate that rat1-1 cells display increased RNAPII transcription kinetics, a feature that may contribute to the cellular phenotypes of the mutant. Consistently, the rat1-1 allele is synthetic lethal with the rpb1-E1103G mutation, causing increased RNAPII speed, and is suppressed by the rpb2-10 mutation, causing slowed transcription. Thus, Rat1p plays more complex roles in controlling transcription than previously thought.

Active transcription and essential role of RNA polymerase II at the centromere during mitosis

Transcription of the centromeric regions has been reported to occur in G1 and S phase in different species. Here, we investigate whether transcription also occurs and plays a functional role at the mammalian centromere during mitosis. We show the presence of actively transcribing RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and its associated transcription factors, coupled with the production of centromere satellite transcripts at the mitotic kinetochore. Specific inhibition of RNAPII activity during mitosis leads to a decrease in centromeric α-satellite transcription and a concomitant increase in anaphase-lagging cells, with the lagging chromosomes showing reduced centromere protein C binding. These findings demonstrate an essential role of RNAPII in the transcription of α-satellite DNA, binding of centromere protein C, and the proper functioning of the mitotic kinetochore.

Structural and binding studies of the C-terminal domains of yeast TFIIF subunits Tfg1 and Tfg2

The general transcription factor TFIIF plays essential roles at several steps during eukaryotic transcription. While several studies have offered insights into the structure/function relationship in human TFIIF, much less is known about the yeast system. Here, we describe the first NMR structural and binding studies of the C-terminal domains (CTDs) of Tfg1 and Tfg2 subunits of Saccharomyces cerevisiae TFIIF. We used the program CS-ROSETTA to determine the three-dimensional folds of these domains in solution, and performed binding studies with DNA and protein targets. CS-ROSETTA models indicate that the Tfg1 and Tfg2 C-terminal domains have winged-helix architectures, similar to the human homologs. We showed that both Tfg1 and Tfg2 CTDs interact with double-stranded DNA oligonucleotides, and mapped the DNA binding interfaces using solution NMR. Tfg1-CTD, but not Tfg2-CTD, also binds to yeast FCP1, an RNA polymerase II-specific phosphatase, and we delineated the interaction surface with the CTD of FCP1. Our results provide insights into the structural basis of yeast TFIIF function and the differential roles of Tfg1 and Tfg2 subunits during transcription.

Disparate chromatin landscapes and kinetics of inactivation impact differential regulation of p53 target genes

The p53 transcription factor regulates the expression of genes involved in cellular responses to stress, including cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The p53 transcriptional program is extremely malleable, with target gene expression varying in a stress- and cell type-specific fashion. The molecular mechanisms underlying differential p53 target gene expression remain elusive. Here we provide evidence for gene-specific mechanisms affecting expression of three important p53 target genes. First we show that transcription of the apoptotic gene PUMA is regulated through intragenic chromatin boundaries, as revealed by distinct histone modification territories that correlate with binding of the insulator factors CTCF, Cohesins and USF1/2. Interestingly, this mode of regulation produces an evolutionary conserved long non-coding RNA of unknown function. Second, we demonstrate that the kinetics of transcriptional competence of the cell cycle arrest gene p21 and the apoptotic gene FAS are markedly different in vivo, as predicted by recent biochemical dissection of their core promoter elements in vitro. After a pulse of p53 activity in cells, assembly of the transcriptional apparatus on p21 is rapidly reversed, while FAS transcriptional activation is more sustained. Collectively these data add to a growing list of p53-autonomous mechanisms that impact differential regulation of p53 target genes.

The RNA Pol II CTD phosphatase Fcp1 is essential for normal development in Drosophila melanogaster

The reversible phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) large subunit carboxyl terminal domain (CTD) during transcription cycles in eukaryotic cells generates signals for the steps of RNA synthesis and maturation. The major phosphatase specific for CTD dephosphorylation from yeast to mammals is the TFIIF-interacting CTD-phosphatase, Fcp1. We report here on the in vivo analysis of Fcp1 function in Drosophila using transgenic lines in which the phosphatase production is misregulated. Fcp1 function is essential throughout Drosophila development and ectopic up- or downregulation of fcp1 results in lethality. The fly Fcp1 binds to specific regions of the polytene chromosomes at many sites colocalized with Pol II. In accord with the strong evolutional conservation of Fcp1: (1) the Xenopus fcp1 can substitute the fly fcp1 function, (2) similarly to its S. pombe homologue, Drosophila melanogaster (Dm)Fcp1 interacts with the RPB4 subunit of Pol II, and (3) transient expression of DmFcp1 has a negative effect on transcription in mammalian cells. The in vivo experimental system described here suggests that fly Fcp1 is associated with the transcription engaged Pol II and offers versatile possibilities for studying this evolutionary conserved essential enzyme.

Phosphorylation by casein kinase 2 facilitates rRNA gene transcription by promoting dissociation of TIF-IA from elongating RNA polymerase I

The protein kinase casein kinase 2 (CK2) phosphorylates different components of the RNA polymerase I (Pol I) transcription machinery and exerts a positive effect on rRNA gene (rDNA) transcription. Here we show that CK2 phosphorylates the transcription initiation factor TIF-IA at serines 170 and 172 (Ser170/172), and this phosphorylation triggers the release of TIF-IA from Pol I after transcription initiation. Inhibition of Ser170/172 phosphorylation or covalent tethering of TIF-IA to the RPA43 subunit of Pol I inhibits rDNA transcription, leading to perturbation of nucleolar structure and cell cycle arrest. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that dissociation of TIF-IA from Pol I is a prerequisite for proper transcription elongation. In support of phosphorylation of TIF-IA switching from the initiation into the elongation phase, dephosphorylation of Ser170/172 by FCP1 facilitates the reassociation of TIF-IA with Pol I, allowing a new round of rDNA transcription. The results reveal a mechanism by which the functional interplay between CK2 and FCP1 sustains multiple rounds of Pol I transcription.

Spn1 regulates the recruitment of Spt6 and the Swi/Snf complex during transcriptional activation by RNA polymerase II

We investigated the timing of the recruitment of Spn1 and its partner, Spt6, to the CYC1 gene. Like TATA binding protein and RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), Spn1 is constitutively recruited to the CYC1 promoter, although levels of transcription from this gene, which is regulated postrecruitment of RNAPII, are low. In contrast, Spt6 appears only after growth in conditions in which the gene is highly transcribed. Spn1 recruitment is via interaction with RNAPII, since an spn1 mutant defective for interaction with RNAPII is not targeted to the promoter, and Spn1 is necessary for Spt6 recruitment. Through a targeted genetic screen, strong and specific antagonizing interactions between SPN1 and genes encoding Swi/Snf subunits were identified. Like Spt6, Swi/Snf appears at CYC1 only after activation of the gene. However, Spt6 significantly precedes Swi/Snf occupancy at the promoter. In the absence of Spn1 recruitment, Swi/Snf is constitutively found at the promoter. These observations support a model whereby Spn1 negatively regulates RNAPII transcriptional activity by inhibiting recruitment of Swi/Snf to the CYC1 promoter, and this inhibition is abrogated by the Spn1-Spt6 interaction. These findings link Spn1 functions to the transition from an inactive to an actively transcribing RNAPII complex at a postrecruitment-regulated promoter.

Sustained induction of NF-kappa B is required for efficient expression of latent human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Cells harboring infectious, but transcriptionally latent, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) proviruses currently pose an insurmountable barrier to viral eradication in infected patients. To better understand the molecular basis for HIV-1 latency, we used the J-Lat model of postintegration HIV-1 latency to assess the kinetic relationship between the induction of NF-kappaB and the activation of latent HIV-1 gene expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses revealed an oscillating pattern of RelA recruitment to the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) during continuous tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) stimulation. RNA polymerase II (Pol II) recruitment to the HIV-1 LTR closely mirrored RelA binding. Transient stimulation of cells with TNF-alpha for 15 min induced only a single round of RelA and RNA Pol II binding and failed to induce robust expression of latent HIV-1. Efficient formation of elongated HIV-1 transcripts required sustained induction by NF-kappaB, which promoted de novo synthesis of Tat. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) and serine-2-phosphorylated RNA Pol II were rapidly recruited to the HIV-1 LTR after NF-kappaB induction; however, these elongating polymerase complexes were progressively dephosphorylated in the absence of Tat. Okadaic acid promoted sustained serine-2 phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of RNA Pol II and stimulated efficient transcriptional elongation and HIV-1 expression in the absence of Tat. These findings underscore important differences between NF-kappaB and Tat stimulation of RNA Pol II elongation. While NF-kappaB binding to the HIV-1 LTR induces serial waves of efficient RNA Pol II initiation, elongation is impaired by the action of an okadaic acid-sensitive phosphatase that dephosphorylates the C-terminal domain of RNA Pol II. Conversely, the action of this phosphatase is overcome in the presence of Tat, promoting very efficient RNA Pol II elongation.

Role for the Ssu72 C-terminal domain phosphatase in RNA polymerase II transcription elongation

The RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) transcription cycle is accompanied by changes in the phosphorylation status of the C-terminal domain (CTD), a reiterated heptapeptide sequence (Y(1)S(2)P(3)T(4)S(5)P(6)S(7)) present at the C terminus of the largest RNAP II subunit. One of the enzymes involved in this process is Ssu72, a CTD phosphatase with specificity for serine-5-P. Here we report that the ssu72-2-encoded Ssu72-R129A protein is catalytically impaired in vitro and that the ssu72-2 mutant accumulates the serine-5-P form of RNAP II in vivo. An in vitro transcription system derived from the ssu72-2 mutant exhibits impaired elongation efficiency. Mutations in RPB1 and RPB2, the genes encoding the two largest subunits of RNAP II, were identified as suppressors of ssu72-2. The rpb1-1001 suppressor encodes an R1281A replacement, whereas rpb2-1001 encodes an R983G replacement. This information led us to identify the previously defined rpb2-4 and rpb2-10 alleles, which encode catalytically slow forms of RNAP II, as additional suppressors of ssu72-2. Furthermore, deletion of SPT4, which encodes a subunit of the Spt4-Spt5 early elongation complex, also suppresses ssu72-2, whereas the spt5-242 allele is suppressed by rpb2-1001. These results define Ssu72 as a transcription elongation factor. We propose a model in which Ssu72 catalyzes serine-5-P dephosphorylation subsequent to addition of the 7-methylguanosine cap on pre-mRNA in a manner that facilitates the RNAP II transition into the elongation stage of the transcription cycle.

The Spt6 SH2 domain binds Ser2-P RNAPII to direct Iws1-dependent mRNA splicing and export

Spt6 promotes transcription elongation at many genes and functions as a histone H3 chaperone to alter chromatin structure during transcription. We show here that mammalian Spt6 binds Ser2-phosphorylated (Ser2P) RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) through a primitive SH2 domain, which recognizes phosphoserine rather than phosphotyrosine residues. Surprisingly, a point mutation in the Spt6 SH2 domain (R1358K) blocked binding to RNAPIIo without affecting transcription elongation rates in vitro. However, HIV-1 and c-myc RNAs formed in cells expressing the mutant Spt6 protein were longer than normal and contained splicing defects. Ectopic expression of the wild-type, but not mutant, Spt6 SH2 domain, caused bulk poly(A)+ RNAs to be retained in the nucleus, further suggesting a widespread role for Spt6 in mRNA processing or assembly of export-competent mRNP particles. We cloned the human Spt6-interacting protein, hIws1 (interacts with Spt6), and found that it associates with the nuclear RNA export factor, REF1/Aly. Depletion of endogenous hIws1 resulted in mRNA processing defects, lower levels of REF1/Aly at the c-myc gene, and nuclear retention of bulk HeLa poly(A)+ RNAs in vivo. Thus binding of Spt6 to Ser2-P RNAPII provides a cotranscriptional mechanism to recruit Iws1, REF1/Aly, and associated mRNA processing, surveillance, and export factors to responsive genes.

The Yin and Yang of P-TEFb regulation: implications for human immunodeficiency virus gene expression and global control of cell growth and differentiation

The positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) stimulates transcriptional elongation by phosphorylating the carboxy-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II and antagonizing the effects of negative elongation factors. Not only is P-TEFb essential for transcription of the vast majority of cellular genes, but it is also a critical host cellular cofactor for the expression of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 genome. Given its important role in globally affecting transcription, P-TEFb's activity is dynamically controlled by both positive and negative regulators in order to achieve a functional equilibrium in sync with the overall transcriptional demand as well as the proliferative state of cells. Notably, this equilibrium can be shifted toward either the active or inactive state in response to diverse physiological stimuli that can ultimately affect the cellular decision between growth and differentiation. In this review, we examine the mechanisms by which the recently identified positive (the bromodomain protein Brd4) and negative (the noncoding 7SK small nuclear RNA and the HEXIM1 protein) regulators of P-TEFb affect the P-TEFb-dependent transcriptional elongation. We also discuss the consequences of perturbations of the dynamic associations of these regulators with P-TEFb in relation to the pathogenesis and progression of several major human diseases, such as cardiac hypertrophy, breast cancer, and HIV infection.

Cellular splicing and transcription regulatory protein p32 represses adenovirus major late transcription and causes hyperphosphorylation of RNA polymerase II

The cellular protein p32 is a multifunctional protein, which has been shown to interact with a large number of cellular and viral proteins and to regulate several important activities like transcription and RNA splicing. We have previously shown that p32 regulates RNA splicing by binding and inhibiting the essential SR protein ASF/SF2. To determine whether p32 also functions as a regulator of splicing in virus-infected cells, we constructed a recombinant adenovirus expressing p32 under the transcriptional control of an inducible promoter. Much to our surprise the results showed that p32 overexpression effectively blocked mRNA and protein expression from the adenovirus major late transcription unit (MLTU). Interestingly, the p32-mediated inhibition of MLTU transcription was accompanied by an approximately 4.5-fold increase in Ser 5 phosphorylation and an approximately 2-fold increase in Ser 2 phosphorylation of the carboxy-terminal domain (CTD). Further, in p32-overexpressing cells the efficiency of RNA polymerase elongation was reduced approximately twofold, resulting in a decrease in the number of polymerase molecules that reached the end of the major late L1 transcription unit. We further show that p32 stimulates CTD phosphorylation in vitro. The inhibitory effect of p32 on MLTU transcription appears to require the CAAT box element in the major late promoter, suggesting that p32 may become tethered to the MLTU via an interaction with the CAAT box binding transcription factor.

Fcp1 directly recognizes the C-terminal domain (CTD) and interacts with a site on RNA polymerase II distinct from the CTD

Fcp1 is an essential protein phosphatase that hydrolyzes phosphoserines within the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Fcp1 plays a major role in the regulation of CTD phosphorylation and, hence, critically influences the function of Pol II throughout the transcription cycle. The basic understanding of Fcp1-CTD interaction has remained ambiguous because two different modes have been proposed: the "dockingsite" model versus the "distributive" mechanism. Here we demonstrate biochemically that Fcp1 recognizes and dephosphorylates the CTD directly, independent of the globular non-CTD part of the Pol II structure. We point out that the recognition of CTD by the phosphatase is based on random access and is not driven by Pol II conformation. Results from three different types of experiments reveal that the overall interaction between Fcp1 and Pol II is not stable but dynamic. In addition, we show that Fcp1 also interacts with a region on the polymerase distinct from the CTD. We emphasize that this non-CTD site is functionally distinct from the docking site invoked previously as essential for the CTD phosphatase activity of Fcp1. We speculate that Fcp1 interaction with the non-CTD site may mediate its stimulatory effect on transcription elongation reported previously.

Recent highlights of RNA-polymerase-II-mediated transcription

Considerable advances into the basis of RNA-polymerase-II-mediated transcriptional regulation have recently emerged. Biochemical, genetic and structural studies have contributed to novel insights into transcription, as well as the functional significance of covalent histone modifications. New details regarding transcription elongation through chromatin have further defined the mechanism behind this action, and identified how chromatin structure may be maintained after RNAP II traverses a nucleosome. ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes, along with histone chaperone complexes, were recently discovered to facilitate histone exchange. In addition, it has become increasingly clear that transcription by RNA polymerase II extends beyond RNA synthesis, towards a more active role in mRNA maturation, surveillance and export to the cytoplasm.

A novel domain in Set2 mediates RNA polymerase II interaction and couples histone H3 K36 methylation with transcript elongation

Histone methylation and the enzymes that mediate it are important regulators of chromatin structure and gene transcription. In particular, the histone H3 lysine 36 (K36) methyltransferase Set2 has recently been shown to associate with the phosphorylated C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), implying that this enzyme has an important role in the transcription elongation process. Here we show that a novel domain in the C terminus of Set2 is responsible for interaction between Set2 and RNAPII. This domain, termed the Set2 Rpb1 interacting (SRI) domain, is encompassed by amino acid residues 619 to 718 in Set2 and is found to occur in a number of putative Set2 homologs from Schizosaccharomyces pombe to humans. Unexpectedly, BIACORE analysis reveals that the SRI domain binds specifically, and with high affinity, to CTD repeats that are doubly modified (serine 2 and serine 5 phosphorylated), indicating that Set2 association across the body of genes requires a specific pattern of phosphorylated RNAPII. Deletion of the SRI domain not only abolishes Set2-RNAPII interaction but also abolishes K36 methylation in vivo, indicating that this interaction is required for establishing K36 methylation on chromatin. Using 6-azauracil (6AU) as an indicator of transcription elongation defects, we found that deletion of the SRI domain conferred a strong resistance to this compound, which was identical to that observed with set2 deletion mutants. Furthermore, yeast strains carrying set2 alleles that are catalytically inactive or yeast strains bearing point mutations at K36 were also found to be resistant to 6AU. These data suggest that it is the methylation by Set2 that affects transcription elongation. In agreement with this, we have determined that deletion of SET2, its SRI domain, or amino acid substitutions at K36 result in an alteration of RNAPII occupancy levels over transcribing genes. Taken together, these data indicate K36 methylation, established by the SRI domain-mediated association of Set2 with RNAPII, plays an important role in the transcription elongation process.

The transcriptional coactivator PC4/Sub1 has multiple functions in RNA polymerase II transcription

Transcription and processing of mRNA precursors are coordinated events that require numerous complex interactions to ensure that they are successfully executed. We described previously an unexpected association between a transcription factor, PC4 (or Sub1 in yeast), and an mRNA polyadenylation factor, CstF-64 (Rna15 in yeast), and provided evidence that this was important for efficient transcription elongation. Here we provide insight into the mechanism by which this occurs. We show that Sub1 and Rna15 are recruited to promoters and present along the length of several yeast genes. Allele-specific genetic interactions between SUB1 and genes encoding an RNA polymerase II (RNAP II)-specific kinase (KIN28) and phosphatase (FCP1) suggest that Sub1 influences and/or is sensitive to the phosphorylation status of elongating RNAP II. Remarkably, we find that cells lacking Sub1 display decreased accumulation of Fcp1, altered RNAP II phosphorylation and decreased crosslinking of RNAP II to transcribed genes. Our data provide evidence that Rna15 and Sub1 are present along the length of several genes and that Sub1 facilitates elongation by influencing enzymes that modify RNAP II.

Interaction of Fcp1 Phosphatase with Elongating RNA Polymerase II Holoenzyme, Enzymatic Mechanism of Action, and Genetic Interaction with Elongator

Fcp1 de-phosphorylates the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) C-terminal domain (CTD) in vitro, and mutation of the yeast FCP1 gene results in global transcription defects and increased CTD phosphorylation levels in vivo. Here we show that the Fcp1 protein associates with elongating RNAPII holoenzyme in vitro. Our data suggest that the association of Fcp1 with elongating polymerase results in CTD de-phosphorylation when the native ternary RNAPII0-DNA-RNA complex is disrupted. Surprisingly, highly purified yeast Fcp1 dephosphorylates serine 5 but not serine 2 of the RNAPII CTD repeat. Only free RNAPII0(Ser-5) and not RNAPII0-DNA-RNA ternary complexes act as a good substrate in the Fcp1 CTD de-phosphorylation reaction. In contrast, TFIIH CTD kinase has a pronounced preference for RNAPII incorporated into a ternary complex. Interestingly, the Fcp1 reaction mechanism appears to entail phosphoryl transfer from RNAPII0 directly to Fcp1. Elongator fails to affect the phosphatase activity of Fcp1 in vitro, but genetic evidence points to a functional overlap between Elongator and Fcp1 in vivo. Genetic interactions between Elongator and a number of other transcription factors are also reported. Together, these results shed new light on mechanisms that drive the transcription cycle and point to a role for Fcp1 in the recycling of RNAPII after dissociation from active genes.

Identification of proteins interacting with the RNAPII FCP1 phosphatase: FCP1 forms a complex with arginine methyltransferase PRMT5 and it is a substrate for PRMT5-mediated methylation

FCP1, a phosphatase specific of the carboxyl-terminal-domain of the large subunit of the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), stimulates transcription elongation and it is required for general transcription and cell viability. To identify novel interacting proteins of FCP1, we used a human cell line expressing an epitope flagged FCP1 and proteins, which formed complexes with FCP1, were identified by mass spectrometry. We identified four proteins: RPB2 subunit of the RNAPII, the nuclear kinase, NDR1, the methyltransferase PRMT5 and the enhancer of rudimentary homologue (ERH) proteins. Intriguingly, both the PRMT5 and ERH proteins are interacting partners of the SPT5 elongation factor. Interactions of RPB2, ERH, NDR1 and PRMT5 with FCP1 were confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation or in vitro pull-down assays. Interaction between PRMT5 and FCP1 was further confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation of endogenous proteins. We found that FCP1 is a genuine substrate of PRMT5-methylation both in vivo and in vitro, and FCP1-associated PRMT5 can methylate histones H4 in vitro.

Elongation by RNA polymerase II: the short and long of it

Appreciable advances into the process of transcript elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) have identified this stage as a dynamic and highly regulated step of the transcription cycle. Here, we discuss the many factors that regulate the elongation stage of transcription. Our discussion includes the classical elongation factors that modulate the activity of RNAP II, and the more recently identified factors that facilitate elongation on chromatin templates. Additionally, we discuss the factors that associate with RNAP II, but do not modulate its catalytic activity. Elongation is highlighted as a central process that coordinates multiple stages in mRNA biogenesis and maturation.

Interaction networks of the molecular machines that decode, replicate, and maintain the integrity of the human genome

The interaction of many proteins with genomic DNA is required for the expression, replication, and maintenance of the integrity of mammalian genomes. These proteins participate in processes as diverse as gene transcription and mRNA processing, as well as in DNA replication, recombination, and repair. This intricate system, where the various nuclear machineries interact with one another and bind to either common or distinct DNA regions to create an impressive network of protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions, is made even more complex by the need for a very stringent control in order to ensure normal cell growth and differentiation. A general methodology based on the in vivo pull-down of tagged components of nuclear machines and regulatory proteins was used to study genome-wide protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions in mammalian cells. In particular, this approach has been used in defining the interaction networks (or "interactome") formed by RNA polymerase II, a molecular machine that decodes the human genome. In addition, because this methodology allows for the purification of variant forms of tagged complexes having site-directed mutations in key elements, it can also be used for deciphering the relationship between the structure and the function of the molecular machines, such as RNA polymerase II, that by binding DNA play a central role in the pathway from the genome to the organism.

The two steps of poly(A)-dependent termination, pausing and release, can be uncoupled by truncation of the RNA polymerase II carboxyl-terminal repeat domain

The carboxyl-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II is thought to help coordinate events during RNA metabolism. The mammalian CTD consists of 52 imperfectly repeated heptads followed by 10 additional residues at the C terminus. The CTD is required for cleavage and polyadenylation in vitro. We studied poly(A)-dependent termination in vivo using CTD truncation mutants. Poly(A)-dependent termination occurs in two steps, pause and release. We found that the CTD is required for release, the first 25 heptads being sufficient. Neither the final 10 amino acids nor the variant heptads of the second half of the CTD were required. No part of the CTD was required for poly(A)-dependent pausing--the poly(A) signal could communicate directly with the body of the polymerase. By removing the CTD, pausing could be observed without being obscured by release. Poly(A)-dependent pausing appeared to operate by slowing down the polymerase, such as by down-regulation of a positive elongation factor. Although the first 25 heptads supported undiminished poly(A)-dependent termination, they did not efficiently support events near the promoter involved in abortive elongation. However, the second half of the CTD, including the final 10 amino acids, was sufficient for these functions.

Human Spt6 stimulates transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II in vitro

Recent studies have suggested that Spt6 participates in the regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). However, its underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. One possibility, which is supported by genetic and biochemical studies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is that Spt6 affects chromatin structure. Alternatively, Spt6 directly controls transcription by binding to the transcription machinery. In this study, we establish that human Spt6 (hSpt6) is a classic transcription elongation factor that enhances the rate of RNAPII elongation. hSpt6 is capable of stimulating transcription elongation both individually and in concert with DRB sensitivity-inducing factor (DSIF), comprising human Spt5 and human Spt4. We also provide evidence showing that hSpt6 interacts with RNAPII and DSIF in human cells. Thus, in vivo, hSpt6 may regulate multiple steps of mRNA synthesis through its interaction with histones, elongating RNAPII, and possibly other components of the transcription machinery.

Functional interactions of RNA-capping enzyme with factors that positively and negatively regulate promoter escape by RNA polymerase II

Capping of the 5' ends of nascent RNA polymerase II transcripts is the first pre-mRNA processing event in all eukaryotic cells. Capping enzyme (CE) is recruited to transcription complexes soon after initiation by the phosphorylation of Ser-5 of the carboxyl-terminal domain of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II. Here, we analyze the role of CE in promoter clearance and its functional interactions with different factors that are involved in promoter clearance. FCP1-mediated dephosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal domain results in a drastic decrease in cotranscriptional capping efficiency but is reversed by the presence of DRB sensitivity-inducing factor (DSIF). These results suggest involvement of DSIF in CE recruitment. Importantly, CE relieves transcriptional repression by the negative elongation factor, indicating a critical role of CE in the elongation checkpoint control mechanism during promoter clearance. This functional interaction between CE and the negative elongation factor documents a dynamic role of CE in promoter clearance beyond its catalytic activities.

Genetic interactions between an RNA polymerase II phosphatase and centromeric elements in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Saccharomyces cerevisiase protein phosphatase Fcp1 has been implicated in the regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II, and is encoded by the essential gene FCP1. A screen was carried out for multicopy suppressors of the temperature-sensitive phenotype of two phosphatase mutants, fcp1-2 and fcp1-4. Only the wild-type FCP1 was found to suppress (complement) the fcp1-4 mutation. For fcp1-2 three second-site suppressors were identified. One contained the ORF for ZDS1. The remaining two suppressors mapped to the centromere regions of chromosomes I and V. Suppression due to centromere DNA was found to be more dependent on the CDEIII region than on other regions of the centromere. The presence of a suppressor centromere affected the level of Fcp1 protein and the overall phosphorylation state of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) in fcp1-2 cells, but not wild-type cells, grown at both permissive and non-permissive temperatures. In addition, genetic interactions were identified between this FCP1 mutant and the genes SKP1, CEP3 and CBF1, which code for centromere binding proteins. The mechanism of suppression and regulation of Fcp1-2 protein activity by centromeric DNA is discussed.

Dephosphorylation of RNA polymerase I by Fcp1p is required for efficient rRNA synthesis

Differently phosphorylated forms of RNA polymerase (Pol) II are required to guide the enzyme through the transcription cycle. Here, we show that a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycle is also important for RNA polymerase I-dependent synthesis of rRNA precursors. A key component of the Pol II transcription system is Fcp1p, a phosphatase that dephosphorylates the C-terminal domain of the largest Pol II subunit. Fcp1p stimulates transcription elongation and is required for Pol II recycling after transcription termination. We found that Fcp1p is also part of the RNA Pol I transcription apparatus. Fcp1p is required for efficient rDNA transcription in vivo, and also, recombinant Fcp1p stimulates rRNA synthesis both in promoter-dependent and in nonspecific transcription assays in vitro. We demonstrate that Fcp1 activity is not involved in the formation of the initiation-active form of Pol I (the Pol I-Rrn3p complex) and propose that dephosphorylation of Pol I by Fcp1p facilitates chain elongation during rRNA synthesis.

Partial deficiency of the C-terminal-domain phosphatase of RNA polymerase II is associated with congenital cataracts facial dysmorphism neuropathy syndrome

Congenital cataracts facial dysmorphism neuropathy (CCFDN) syndrome (OMIM 604168) is an autosomal recessive developmental disorder that occurs in an endogamous group of Vlax Roma (Gypsies; refs. 1-3). We previously localized the gene associated with CCFDN to 18qter, where a conserved haplotype suggested a single founder mutation. In this study, we used recombination mapping to refine the gene position to a 155-kb critical interval. During haplotype analysis, we found that the non-transmitted chromosomes of some unaffected parents carried the conserved haplotype associated with the disease. Assuming such parents to be completely homozygous across the critical interval except with respect to the disease-causing mutation, we developed a new 'not quite identical by descent' (NQIBD) approach, which allowed us to identify the mutation causing the disease by sequencing DNA from a single unaffected homozygous parent. We show that CCFDN is caused by a single-nucleotide substitution in an antisense Alu element in intron 6 of CTDP1 (encoding the protein phosphatase FCP1, an essential component of the eukaryotic transcription machinery), resulting in a rare mechanism of aberrant splicing and an Alu insertion in the processed mRNA. CCFDN thus joins the group of 'transcription syndromes' and is the first 'purely' transcriptional defect identified that affects polymerase II-mediated gene expression.

NMR structure of a complex containing the TFIIF subunit RAP74 and the RNA polymerase II carboxyl-terminal domain phosphatase FCP1

FCP1 [transcription factor IIF (TFIIF)-associated carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) phosphatase] is the only identified phosphatase specific for the phosphorylated CTD of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II). The phosphatase activity of FCP1 is enhanced in the presence of the large subunit of TFIIF (RAP74 in humans). It has been demonstrated that the CTD of RAP74 (cterRAP74; residues 436-517) directly interacts with the highly acidic CTD of FCP1 (cterFCP; residues 879-961 in human). In this manuscript, we have determined a high-resolution solution structure of a cterRAP74cterFCP complex by NMR spectroscopy. Interestingly, the cterFCP protein is completely disordered in the unbound state, but forms an alpha-helix (H1'; E945-M961) in the complex. The cterRAP74cterFCP binding interface relies extensively on van der Waals contacts between hydrophobic residues from the H2 and H3 helices of cterRAP74 and hydrophobic residues from the H1' helix of cterFCP. The binding interface also contains two critical electrostatic interactions involving aspartic acid residues from H1' of cterFCP and lysine residues from both H2 and H3 of cterRAP74. There are also three additional polar interactions involving highly conserved acidic residues from the H1' helix. The cterRAP74cterFCP complex is the first high-resolution structure between an acidic residue-rich domain from a holoenzyme-associated regulatory protein and a general transcription factor. The structure defines a clear role for both hydrophobic and acidic residues in proteinprotein complexes involving acidic residue-rich domains in transcription regulatory proteins.

Defining the active site of Schizosaccharomyces pombe C-terminal domain phosphatase Fcp1

Fcp1 is an essential protein serine phosphatase that dephosphorylates the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II. By testing the effects of serial N- and C-terminal deletions of the 723-amino acid Schizosaccharomyces pombe Fcp1, we defined a minimal phosphatase domain spanning amino acids 156-580. We employed site-directed mutagenesis (introducing 24 mutations at 14 conserved positions) to locate candidate catalytic residues. We found that alanine substitutions for Arg(223), Asp(258), Lys(280), Asp(297), and Asp(298) abrogated the phosphatase activity with either p-nitrophenyl phosphate or CTD-PO(4) as substrates. Structure-activity relationships were determined by introducing conservative substitutions at each essential position. Our results, together with previous mutational studies, highlight a constellation of seven amino acids (Asp(170), Asp(172), Arg(223), Asp(258), Lys(280), Asp(297), and Asp(298)) that are conserved in all Fcp1 orthologs and likely comprise the active site. Five of these residues (Asp(170), Asp(172), Lys(280), Asp(297), and Asp(298)) are conserved at the active site of T4 polynucleotide 3'-phosphatase, suggesting that Fcp1 and T4 phosphatase are structurally and mechanistically related members of the DXD phosphotransferase superfamily.

Transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II

The elongation of transcripts by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is subject to regulation and requires the services of a host of accessory proteins. Although the biochemical mechanisms underlying elongation and its regulation remain obscure, recent progress sets the stage for rapid advancement in our understanding of this phase of transcription. High-resolution crystal structures will allow focused analyses of RNAPII in all its functional states. Several recent studies suggest specific roles for the C-terminal heptad repeats of the largest subunit of RNAPII in elongation. Proteomic approaches are being used to identify new transcription-elongation factors and to define interactions between elongation factors and RNAPII. Finally, a combination of genetic analysis and the localization of factors on transcribed chromatin is being used to confirm a role for factors in elongation.

The C-terminal domain phosphatase and transcription elongation activities of FCP1 are regulated by phosphorylation

The C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is heavily phosphorylated during the transition from transcription initiation to the establishment of an elongation-competent transcription complex. FCP1 is the only phosphatase known to be specific for the CTD of the largest subunit of RNAPII, and its activity is believed to be required to reactivate RNAPII, so that RNAPII can enter another round of transcription. We demonstrate that FCP1 is a phosphoprotein, and that phosphorylation regulates FCP1 activities. FCP1 is phosphorylated at multiple sites in vivo. The CTD phosphatase activity of phosphorylated FCP1 is stimulated by TFIIF, whereas dephosphorylated FCP1 is not. In addition to its role in the recycling of RNAPII, FCP1 also affects transcription elongation. Phosphorylated FCP1 is more active in stimulating transcription elongation than the dephosphorylated form of FCP1. We found that only phosphorylated FCP1 can physically interact with TFIIF. We set out to purify an FCP1 kinase from HeLa cells and identified casein kinase 2, which, surprisingly, displayed a negative effect on FCP1-associated activities.