Nutrient-regulated gene expression in eukaryotes

2006 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 85-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Reece ◽  
Laila Beynon ◽  
Stacey Holden ◽  
Amanda D. Hughes ◽  
Karine Rébora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Signalling Pathways ◽  
A Cell ◽  
One Step ◽  
Higher Eukaryotes ◽  
Regulated Gene Expression

The recognition of changes in environmental conditions, and the ability to adapt to these changes, is essential for the viability of cells. There are numerous well characterized systems by which the presence or absence of an individual metabolite may be recognized by a cell. However, the recognition of a metabolite is just one step in a process that often results in changes in the expression of whole sets of genes required to respond to that metabolite. In higher eukaryotes, the signalling pathway between metabolite recognition and transcriptional control can be complex. Recent evidence from the relatively simple eukaryote yeast suggests that complex signalling pathways may be circumvented through the direct interaction between individual metabolites and regulators of RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription. Biochemical and structural analyses are beginning to unravel these elegant genetic control elements.

Defining a critical enhancer near Nanog using chromatin-focused approaches identifies RNA Pol II recruitment as required for expression

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Puja Agrawal ◽  
Steven Blinka ◽  
Kirthi Pulakanti ◽  
Michael H. Reimer ◽  
Sridhar Rao
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Transcriptional Enhancers ◽  
Super Enhancer ◽  
Dna Elements ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Reporter Assays ◽  
Genomic Editing

ABSTRACTTranscriptional enhancers have been defined by their ability to operate independent of distance and orientation in plasmid-based reporter assays of gene expression. Currently, histone marks are used heavily to identify and define enhancers but both methods do not consider the endogenous role of an enhancer in the context of native chromatin. We employed a combination of genomic editing, single cell analyses, and sequencing approaches to investigate a Nanog-associated cis-regulatory element (CRE) which has been reported by others to be either an alternative promoter or a super-enhancer (SE). We first demonstrate both distance and orientation independence in native chromatin, eliminating the issues raised with plasmid-based approaches. We also demonstrate that the dominant SE modulates Nanog globally and operates by recruiting and/or initiating RNA Polymerase II. Our studies have important implications to how transcriptional enhancers are defined and how they regulate gene expression.AUTHOR SUMMARYDifferent DNA elements help regulate the levels of gene expression. One such element are enhancers, short sequences that interact with genes to modulate levels of expression but can operate over large distances. Previously, these sequences were defined by their ability to regulate expression independent of their distance from a gene and the orientation of the sequence. However, these characteristics were found using techniques that did not recapitulate the native environment. Here, we have shown that an enhancer of one gene is indeed an enhancer by testing its distance and orientation-independence within the native environment. We also show that the mechanisms by which the enhancer is regulating expression is by controlling the levels of RNA Polymerase II at a gene. RNA Polymerase II is the protein that converts the gene sequence to a form usable by a cell, called mRNA. This is interesting because while this has been considered historically the main way enhancers operate, more recent work has focused on other, later regulatory steps involved in controlling mRNA production.

scholarly journals Structure of the p53/RNA polymerase II assembly

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu-Hao Liou ◽  
Sameer K. Singh ◽  
Robert H. Singer ◽  
Robert A. Coleman ◽  
Wei-Li Liu
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
P53 Protein ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Transactivation Domain ◽  
Pol Ii ◽  
Dna Binding Activity ◽  
Regulated Gene Expression

AbstractThe tumor suppressor p53 protein activates expression of a vast gene network in response to stress stimuli for cellular integrity. The molecular mechanism underlying how p53 targets RNA polymerase II (Pol II) to regulate transcription remains unclear. To elucidate the p53/Pol II interaction, we have determined a 4.6 Å resolution structure of the human p53/Pol II assembly via single particle cryo-electron microscopy. Our structure reveals that p53’s DNA binding domain targets the upstream DNA binding site within Pol II. This association introduces conformational changes of the Pol II clamp into a further-closed state. A cavity was identified between p53 and Pol II that could possibly host DNA. The transactivation domain of p53 binds the surface of Pol II’s jaw that contacts downstream DNA. These findings suggest that p53’s functional domains directly regulate DNA binding activity of Pol II to mediate transcription, thereby providing insights into p53-regulated gene expression.

Pausing and termination of human RNA polymerase II transcription at a procaryotic terminator

1983 ◽  
Vol 3 (10) ◽  
pp. 1687-1693
Author(s):  
G W Hatfield ◽  
J A Sharp ◽  
M Rosenberg
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Sequence Specificity ◽  
Late Promoter ◽  
Transcription System ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Major Late Promoter ◽  
Dyad Symmetry ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii Transcription ◽  
Terminator Sequence

Kinetic analyses of runoff transcription in a cell-free eucaryotic transcription system revealed that the bacteriophage lambda 4S RNA terminator caused human RNA polymerase II to pause on the template and partially terminate transcription of transcripts initiated by the adenovirus 2 major late promoter. Analogous to the procaryotic RNA polymerase, the eucaryotic enzyme terminated just beyond the guanine-plus-cytosine-rich region of dyad symmetry in the terminator sequence. These results suggest that the eucaryotic RNA polymerase II may respond to transcription termination sequences similar to those used by the procaryotic enzyme. However, similar templates containing lambda tint or lambda tR1 terminators did not elicit pausing or termination, suggesting that other features, such as sequence specificity, may also be involved.

Mechanism of estrogen receptor-dependent transcription in a cell-free system

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 6607-6612
Author(s):  
J F Elliston ◽  
S E Fawell ◽  
L Klein-Hitpass ◽  
S Y Tsai ◽  
M J Tsai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Steroid Receptor ◽  
Free Expression ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Free System ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Regulated Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Free Expression System

RNA synthesis was stimulated directly in a cell-free expression system by crude preparations of recombinant mouse estrogen receptor (ER). Receptor-stimulated transcription required the presence of estrogen response elements (EREs) in the test template and could be specifically inhibited by addition of competitor oligonucleotides containing EREs. Moreover, polyclonal antibodies directed against the DNA-binding region of ER inhibited ER-dependent transcription. In our cell-free expression system, hormone-free ER induced transcription in a hormone-independent manner. Evidence is presented suggesting that ER acts by facilitating the formation of a stable preinitiation complex at the target gene promoter and thus augments the initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II. These observations lend support to our current understanding of the mechanism of steroid receptor-regulated gene expression and suggest strong conservation of function among members of the steroid receptor superfamily.

A heat-labile factor promotes premature 3' end formation in exon 1 of the murine adenosine deaminase gene in a cell-free transcription system

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 5398-5409
Author(s):  
J W Innis ◽  
R E Kellems
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Adenosine Deaminase ◽  
Free System ◽  
Cell Free System ◽  
Transcription System ◽  
Exon 1 ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Processed Products

An elongation block to RNA polymerase II transcription in exon 1 is a major regulatory step in expression of the murine adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene. Previous work in the laboratory identified abundant short transcripts with 3' termini in exon 1 in steady-state RNA from injected oocytes. Using a cell-free system to investigate the mechanism of premature 3' end formation, we found that polymerase II generates prominent ADA transcripts approximately 96 to 100 nucleotides in length which are similar to the major short transcripts found in steady-state RNA from oocytes injected with ADA templates. We have determined that these transcripts are the processed products of 108- to 112-nucleotide precursors. Precursor formation is (i) favored in reactions using circular templates, (ii) not the result of a posttranscriptional processing event, (iii) sensitive to low concentrations of Sarkosyl, and (iv) dependent on a factor(s) which is inactivated in crude extracts at 47 degrees C for 15 min. The cell-free system will allow further characterization of the template and factor requirements involved in the control of premature 3' end formation by RNA polymerase II.

scholarly journals Acute perturbation strategies in interrogating RNA polymerase II elongation factor function in gene expression

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 273-285
Author(s):  
Bin Zheng ◽  
Yuki Aoi ◽  
Avani P. Shah ◽  
Marta Iwanaszko ◽  
Siddhartha Das ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Elongation Factor ◽  
Factor Function

scholarly journals The Role of RNA Polymerase II Contiguity and Long-Range Interactions in the Regulation of Gene Expression in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Livia Eiselleova ◽  
Viktor Lukjanov ◽  
Simon Farkas ◽  
David Svoboda ◽  
Karel Stepka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Human Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Transcription Factories ◽  
Long Range Interactions ◽  
Rnap Ii

The eukaryotic nucleus is a highly complex structure that carries out multiple functions primarily needed for gene expression, and among them, transcription seems to be the most fundamental. Diverse approaches have demonstrated that transcription takes place at discrete sites known as transcription factories, wherein RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) is attached to the factory and immobilized while transcribing DNA. It has been proposed that transcription factories promote chromatin loop formation, creating long-range interactions in which relatively distant genes can be transcribed simultaneously. In this study, we examined long-range interactions between the POU5F1 gene and genes previously identified as being POU5F1 enhancer-interacting, namely, CDYL, TLE2, RARG, and MSX1 (all involved in transcriptional regulation), in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and their early differentiated counterparts. As a control gene, RUNX1 was used, which is expressed during hematopoietic differentiation and not associated with pluripotency. To reveal how these long-range interactions between POU5F1 and the selected genes change with the onset of differentiation and upon RNAP II inhibition, we performed three-dimensional fluorescence in situ hybridization (3D-FISH) followed by computational simulation analysis. Our analysis showed that the numbers of long-range interactions between specific genes decrease during differentiation, suggesting that the transcription of monitored genes is associated with pluripotency. In addition, we showed that upon inhibition of RNAP II, long-range associations do not disintegrate and remain constant. We also analyzed the distance distributions of these genes in the context of their positions in the nucleus and revealed that they tend to have similar patterns resembling normal distribution. Furthermore, we compared data created in vitro and in silico to assess the biological relevance of our results.

scholarly journals The Rpb6 Subunit of Fission Yeast RNA Polymerase II Is a Contact Target of the Transcription Elongation Factor TFIIS

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1263-1270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Ishiguro ◽  
Yasuhisa Nogi ◽  
Koji Hisatake ◽  
Masami Muramatsu ◽  
Akira Ishihama
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Transcription Elongation ◽  
Elongation Factor ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Single Mutation ◽  
Transcription Elongation Factor ◽  
Essential Region

ABSTRACT The Rpb6 subunit of RNA polymerase II is one of the five subunits common to three forms of eukaryotic RNA polymerase. Deletion and truncation analyses of the rpb6 gene in the fission yeastSchizosaccharomyces pombe indicated that Rpb6, consisting of 142 amino acid residues, is an essential protein for cell viability, and the essential region is located in the C-terminal half between residues 61 and 139. After random mutagenesis, a total of 14 temperature-sensitive mutants were isolated, each carrying a single (or double in three cases and triple in one) mutation. Four mutants each carrying a single mutation in the essential region were sensitive to 6-azauracil (6AU), which inhibits transcription elongation by depleting the intracellular pool of GTP and UTP. Both 6AU sensitivity and temperature-sensitive phenotypes of these rpb6 mutants were suppressed by overexpression of TFIIS, a transcription elongation factor. In agreement with the genetic studies, the mutant RNA polymerases containing the mutant Rpb6 subunits showed reduced affinity for TFIIS, as measured by a pull-down assay of TFIIS-RNA polymerase II complexes using a fusion form of TFIIS with glutathioneS-transferase. Moreover, the direct interaction between TFIIS and RNA polymerase II was competed by the addition of Rpb6. Taken together, the results lead us to propose that Rpb6 plays a role in the interaction between RNA polymerase II and the transcription elongation factor TFIIS.

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