Core promoter-selective RNA polymerase II transcription

2006 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 225-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Gross ◽  
Thomas Oelgeschläger
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Core Promoter ◽  
Promoter Sequence ◽  
Tata Box ◽  
Promoter Elements ◽  
The Core ◽  
Core Promoter Sequence ◽  
Rnap Ii

The initiation of mRNA synthesis in eukaryotic cells is a complex and highly regulated process that requires the assembly of general transcription factors and RNAP II (RNA polymerase II; also abbreviated as Pol II) into a pre-initiation complex at the core promoter. The core promoter is defined as the minimal DNA region that is sufficient to direct low levels of activator-independent (basal) transcription by RNAP II in vitro. The core promoter typically extends approx. 40 bp up- and down-stream of the start site of transcription and can contain several distinct core promoter sequence elements. Core promoters in higher eukaryotes are highly diverse in structure, and each core promoter sequence element is only found in a subset of genes. So far, only TATA box and INR (initiator) element have been shown to be capable of directing accurate RNAP II transcription initiation independent of other core promoter elements. Computational analysis of metazoan genomes suggests that the prevalence of the TATA box has been overestimated in the past and that the majority of human genes are TATA-less. While TATA-mediated transcription initiation has been studied in great detail and is very well understood, very little is known about the factors and mechanisms involved in the function of the INR and other core promoter elements. Here we summarize our current understanding of the factors and mechanisms involved in core promoter-selective transcription and discuss possible pathways through which diversity in core promoter architecture might contribute to combinatorial gene regulation in metazoan cells.

scholarly journals The New Core Promoter Element XCPE1 (X Core Promoter Element 1) Directs Activator-, Mediator-, and TATA-Binding Protein-Dependent but TFIID-Independent RNA Polymerase II Transcription from TATA-Less Promoters

2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1844-1858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumiko Tokusumi ◽  
Ying Ma ◽  
Xianzhou Song ◽  
Raymond H. Jacobson ◽  
Shinako Takada
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Core Promoter ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Regulation Of Transcription ◽  
Promoter Element ◽  
Promoter Elements ◽  
Core Promoter Element ◽  
The Core ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii Transcription

ABSTRACT The core promoter is a critical DNA element required for accurate transcription and regulation of transcription. Several core promoter elements have been previously identified in eukaryotes, but those cannot account for transcription from most RNA polymerase II-transcribed genes. Additional, as-yet-unidentified core promoter elements must be present in eukaryotic genomes. From extensive analyses of the hepatitis B virus X gene promoter, here we identify a new core promoter element, XCPE1 (the X gene core promoter element 1), that drives RNA polymerase II transcription. XCPE1 is located between nucleotides −8 and +2 relative to the transcriptional start site (+1) and has a consensus sequence of G/A/T-G/C-G-T/C-G-G-G/A-A-G/C+1-A/C. XCPE1 shows fairly weak transcriptional activity alone but exerts significant, specific promoter activity when accompanied by activator-binding sites. XCPE1 is also found in the core promoter regions of about 1% of human genes, particularly in poorly characterized TATA-less genes. Our in vitro transcription studies suggest that the XCPE1-driven transcription can be highly active in the absence of TFIID because it can utilize either free TBP or the complete TFIID complex. Our findings suggest the possibility of the existence of a TAF1 (TFIID)-independent transcriptional initiation mechanism that may be used by a category of TATA-less promoters in higher eukaryotes.

scholarly journals Perspectives on the RNA polymerase II core promoter

2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1047-1050 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Juven-Gershon ◽  
J.-Y. Hsu ◽  
J.T. Kadonaga
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Core Promoter ◽  
Tata Box ◽  
Core Element ◽  
Recognition Element ◽  
Transcription Process ◽  
Dna Elements ◽  
And Function

The RNA polymerase II core promoter is a critical yet often overlooked component in the transcription process. The core promoter is defined as the stretch of DNA, which encompasses the RNA start site and is typically approx. 40–50 nt in length, that directs the initiation of gene transcription. In the past, it has been generally presumed that core promoters are general in function and that transcription initiation occurs via a common shared mechanism. Recent studies have revealed, however, that there is considerable diversity in core promoter structure and function. There are a number of DNA elements that contribute to core promoter activity, and the specific properties of a given core promoter are dictated by the presence or absence of these core promoter motifs. The known core promoter elements include the TATA box, Inr (initiator), BREu {BRE [TFIIB (transcription factor for RNA polymerase IIB) recognition element] upstream of the TATA box} and BREd (BRE downstream of the TATA box), MTE (motif ten element), DCE (downstream core element) and DPE (downstream core promoter element). In this paper, we will provide some perspectives on current and future issues that pertain to the RNA polymerase II core promoter.

scholarly journals Core Promoter Elements and TAFs Contribute to the Diversity of Transcriptional Activation in Vertebrates

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (20) ◽  
pp. 7350-7362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Chen ◽  
James L. Manley
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Core Promoter ◽  
Simian Virus 40 ◽  
Simian Virus ◽  
Promoter Strength ◽  
Promoter Elements ◽  
The Core ◽  
Activation Mechanisms ◽  
Rnap Ii

ABSTRACT Gene-specific transcriptional activation is a multistep process that requires numerous protein factors and DNA elements, including enhancers and the core promoter. To investigate the roles of core promoter elements in transcriptional activation in vertebrates, we examined expression and factor occupancy on representative promoters in chicken DT40 cells containing a conditional TATA binding protein (TBP)-associated factor 9 allele (TAF9). Characterized core elements, including TATA box-flanking regions and the downstream promoter element, were found to play significant roles in determining promoter strength, response to activators, and factor occupancy and recruitment. The requirement for TAF9 was found to be highly promoter specific, and TAF9 dependence and promoter occupancy were not always correlated. We also describe contrasting examples of factor recruitment and activation mechanisms at different promoters, highlighted by the nearly opposite mechanisms utilized by the simian virus 40 enhancer and p53. With the core promoters analyzed, the former functions by facilitating RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) recruitment to a preassembled TBP/TFIIB-containing scaffold and p53 strongly recruits TBP and TFIIB while RNAP II levels remain modest. Taken together, our results illustrate both the important roles of core promoter elements and the remarkable diversity that characterizes transcriptional activation mechanisms in vertebrates.

scholarly journals Computational identification and experimental characterization of preferred downstream positions in human core promoters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
René Dreos ◽  
Nati Malachi ◽  
Anna Sloutskin ◽  
Philipp Bucher ◽  
Tamar Juven-Gershon
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Motif Discovery ◽  
Core Promoter ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Promoter Element ◽  
Pol Ii ◽  
Core Promoters ◽  
The Core

AbstractMetazoan core promoters, which direct the initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II), may contain short sequence motifs termed core promoter elements/motifs (e.g. the TATA box, initiator (Inr) and downstream core promoter element (DPE)), which recruit Pol II via the general transcription machinery. The DPE was discovered and extensively characterized in Drosophila, where it is strictly dependent on both the presence of an Inr and the precise spacing from it. Since the Drosophila DPE is recognized by the human transcription machinery, it is most likely that some human promoters contain a downstream element that is similar, though not necessarily identical, to the Drosophila DPE. However, only a couple of human promoters were shown to contain a functional DPE, and attempts to computationally detect human DPE-containing promoters have mostly been unsuccessful. Using a newly-designed motif discovery strategy based on Expectation-Maximization probabilistic partitioning algorithms, we discovered preferred downstream positions (PDP) in human promoters that resemble the Drosophila DPE. Available chromatin accessibility footprints revealed that Drosophila and human Inr+DPE promoter classes are not only highly structured, but also similar to each other, particularly in the proximal downstream region. Clustering of the corresponding sequence motifs using a neighbor-joining algorithm strongly suggests that canonical Inr+DPE promoters could be common to metazoan species. Using reporter assays we demonstrate the contribution of the identified downstream positions to the function of multiple human promoters. Furthermore, we show that alteration of the spacing between the Inr and PDP by two nucleotides results in reduced promoter activity, suggesting a strict spacing dependency of the newly discovered human PDP on the Inr. Taken together, our strategy identified novel functional downstream positions within human core promoters, supporting the existence of DPE-like motifs in human promoters.Author summaryTranscription of genes by the RNA polymerase II enzyme initiates at a genomic region termed the core promoter. The core promoter is a regulatory region that may contain diverse short DNA sequence motifs/elements that confer specific properties to it. Interestingly, core promoter motifs can be located both upstream and downstream of the transcription start site. Variable compositions of core promoter elements have been identified. The initiator (Inr) motif and the downstream core promoter element (DPE) is a combination of elements that has been identified and extensively characterized in fruit flies. Although a few Inr+DPE - containing human promoters have been identified, the presence of transcriptionally important downstream core promoter positions within human promoters has been a matter of controversy in the literature. Here, using a newly-designed motif discovery strategy, we discovered preferred downstream positions in human promoters that resemble fruit fly DPE. Clustering of the corresponding sequence motifs in eight additional species indicated that such promoters could be common to multicellular non-plant organisms. Importantly, functional characterization of the newly discovered preferred downstream positions supports the existence of Inr+DPE-containing promoters in human genes.

scholarly journals Nucleotide Resolution Comparison of Transcription of Human Cytomegalovirus and Host Genomes Reveals Universal Use of RNA Polymerase II Elongation Control Driven by Dissimilar Core Promoter Elements

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mrutyunjaya Parida ◽  
Kyle A. Nilson ◽  
Ming Li ◽  
Christopher B. Ball ◽  
Harrison A. Fuchs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Core Promoter ◽  
The United States ◽  
Viral Transcription ◽  
Late Infection ◽  
Promoter Elements ◽  
Nucleotide Resolution ◽  
Productive Elongation

ABSTRACTThe large genome of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is transcribed by RNA polymerase II (Pol II). However, it is not known how closely this betaherpesvirus follows host transcriptional paradigms. We applied PRO-Seq and PRO-Cap methods to profile and quantify transcription initiation and productive elongation across the host and virus genomes in late infection. A major similarity between host transcription and viral transcription is that treatment of cells with the P-TEFb inhibitor flavopiridol preempts virtually all productive elongation, which otherwise covers most of the HCMV genome. The deep, nucleotide resolution identification of transcription start sites (TSSs) enabled an extensive analysis of core promoter elements. An important difference between host and viral transcription is that initiation is much more pervasive on the HCMV genome. The sequence preferences in the initiator region around the TSS and the utilization of upstream T/A-rich elements are different. Upstream TATA positions the TSS and boosts initiation in both the host and the virus, but upstream TATT has a significant stimulatory impact only on the viral template. The major immediate early (MIE) promoter remained active during late infection and was accompanied by transcription of both strands of the MIE enhancer from promoters within the enhancer. Surprisingly, we found that the long noncoding RNA4.9 is intimately associated with the viral origin of replication (oriLyt) and was transcribed to a higher level than any other viral or host promoter. Finally, our results significantly contribute to the idea that late in infection, transcription takes place on viral genomes that are not highly chromatinized.IMPORTANCEHuman cytomegalovirus infects more than half of humans, persists silently in virtually all tissues, and produces life-threatening disease in immunocompromised individuals. HCMV is also the most common infectious cause of birth defects and the leading nongenetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss in the United States. Because there is no vaccine and current drugs have problems with potency, toxicity, and antiviral drug resistance, alternative treatment strategies that target different points of viral control are needed. Our current study contributes to this goal by applying newly developed methods to examine transcription of the HCMV and host genomes at nucleotide resolution in an attempt to find targetable differences between the two. After a thorough analysis of productive elongation and of core promoter element usage, we found that some mechanisms of regulating transcription are shared between the host and HCMV but that others are distinctly different. This suggests that HCMV transcription may be a legitimate target for future antiviral therapies and this might translate to other herpesviruses.

scholarly journals The RNA Polymerase II Kinase Ctk1 Regulates Positioning of a 5′ Histone Methylation Boundary along Genes

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 721-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiaojiang Xiao ◽  
Yoichiro Shibata ◽  
Bhargavi Rao ◽  
R. Nicholas Laribee ◽  
Rose O'Rourke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Histone Deacetylation ◽  
H3k4 Methylation ◽  
H3k36 Methylation ◽  
Transcriptional Initiation ◽  
Spurious Transcription ◽  
Transcriptional Stress ◽  
Rnap Ii

ABSTRACT In yeast and other eukaryotes, the histone methyltransferase Set1 mediates methylation of lysine 4 on histone H3 (H3K4me). This modification marks the 5′ end of transcribed genes in a 5′-to-3′ tri- to di- to monomethyl gradient and promotes association of chromatin-remodeling and histone-modifying enzymes. Here we show that Ctk1, the serine 2 C-terminal domain (CTD) kinase for RNA polymerase II (RNAP II), regulates H3K4 methylation. We found that CTK1 deletion nearly abolished H3K4 monomethylation yet caused a significant increase in H3K4 di- and trimethylation. Both in individual genes and genome-wide, loss of CTK1 disrupted the H3K4 methylation patterns normally observed. H3K4me2 and H3K4me3 spread 3′ into the bodies of genes, while H3K4 monomethylation was diminished. These effects were dependent on the catalytic activity of Ctk1 but are independent of Set2-mediated H3K36 methylation. Furthermore, these effects are not due to spurious transcription initiation in the bodies of genes, to changes in RNAP II occupancy, to changes in serine 5 CTD phosphorylation patterns, or to “transcriptional stress.” These data show that Ctk1 acts to restrict the spread of H3K4 methylation through a mechanism that is independent of a general transcription defect. The evidence presented suggests that Ctk1 controls the maintenance of suppressive chromatin in the coding regions of genes by both promoting H3K36 methylation, which leads to histone deacetylation, and preventing the 3′ spread of H3K4 trimethylation, a mark associated with transcriptional initiation.

scholarly journals Phosphorylation of Serine 177 of the Small Hepatitis Delta Antigen Regulates Viral Antigenomic RNA Replication by Interacting with the Processive RNA Polymerase II

2009 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 1430-1438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiao-Ya Hong ◽  
Pei-Jer Chen
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Kinase Inhibitor ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Hepatitis Delta ◽  
Delta Antigen ◽  
Hepatitis Delta Antigen ◽  
Rnap Ii

ABSTRACT Recent studies revealed that posttranslational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation and methylation) of the small hepatitis delta antigen (SHDAg) are required for hepatitis delta virus (HDV) replication from antigenomic to genomic RNA. The phosphorylation of SHDAg at serine 177 (Ser177) is involved in this step, and this residue is crucial for interaction with RNA polymerase II (RNAP II), the enzyme assumed to be responsible for antigenomic RNA replication. This study demonstrated that SHDAg dephosphorylated at Ser177 interacted preferentially with hypophosphorylated RNAP II (RNAP IIA), which generally binds at the transcription initiation sites. In contrast, the Ser177-phosphorylated counterpart (pSer177-SHDAg) exhibited preferential binding to hyperphosphorylated RNAP II (RNAP IIO). In addition, RNAP IIO associated with pSer177-SHDAg was hyperphosphorylated at both the Ser2 and Ser5 residues of its carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD), which is a hallmark of the transcription elongation isoform. Moreover, the RNAP II CTD kinase inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-β-d-ribofuranosyl-benzimidazole (DRB) not only blocked the interaction between pSer177-SHDAg and RNAP IIO but also inhibited HDV antigenomic replication. Our results suggest that the phosphorylation of SHDAg at Ser177 shifted its affinity toward the RNA RNAP IIO isoform and thus is a switch for HDV antigenomic RNA replication from the initiation to the elongation stage.

scholarly journals Architecture of TAF11/TAF13/TBP complex suggests novel regulatory state in General Transcription Factor TFIID function

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kapil Gupta ◽  
Aleksandra A. Watson ◽  
Tiago Baptista ◽  
Elisabeth Scheer ◽  
Anna L. Chambers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Core Promoter ◽  
Supporting Cell ◽  
Tata Box ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Regulatory State ◽  
Histone Fold ◽  
General Transcription Factor

AbstractGeneral transcription factor TFIID is a key component of RNA polymerase II transcription initiation. Human TFIID is a megadalton-sized complex comprising TATA-binding protein (TBP) and 13 TBP-associated factors (TAFs). TBP binds to core promoter DNA, recognizing the TATA-box. We identified a ternary complex formed by TBP and the histone fold (HF) domain-containing TFIID subunits TAF11 and TAF13. We demonstrate that TAF11/TAF13 competes for TBP binding with TATA-box DNA, and also with the N-terminal domain of TAF1 previously implicated in TATA-box mimicry. In an integrative approach combining crystal coordinates, biochemical analyses and data from cross-linking mass-spectrometry (CLMS), we determine the architecture of the TAF11/TAF13/TBP complex, revealing TAF11/TAF13 interaction with the DNA binding surface of TBP. We identify a highly conserved C-terminal TBP-binding domain (CTID) in TAF13 which is essential for supporting cell growth. Our results thus have implications for cellular TFIID assembly and suggest a novel regulatory state for TFIID function.

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