scholarly journals Phosphatase Rtr1 Regulates Global Levels of Serine 5 RNA Polymerase II C-Terminal Domain Phosphorylation and Cotranscriptional Histone Methylation

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (17) ◽  
pp. 2236-2245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald O. Hunter ◽  
Melanie J. Fox ◽  
Whitney R. Smith-Kinnaman ◽  
Madelaine Gogol ◽  
Brian Fleharty ◽  
...  

In eukaryotes, the C-terminal domain (CTD) of Rpb1 contains a heptapeptide repeat sequence of (Y1S2P3T4S5P6S7)nthat undergoes reversible phosphorylation through the opposing action of kinases and phosphatases. Rtr1 is a conserved protein that colocalizes with RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and has been shown to be important for the transition from elongation to termination during transcription by removing RNAPII CTD serine 5 phosphorylation (Ser5-P) at a selection of target genes. In this study, we show that Rtr1 is a global regulator of the CTD code with deletion ofRTR1causing genome-wide changes in Ser5-P CTD phosphorylation and cotranscriptional histone H3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3). Using chromatin immunoprecipitation and high-resolution microarrays, we show thatRTR1deletion results in global changes in RNAPII Ser5-P levels on genes with different lengths and transcription rates consistent with its role as a CTD phosphatase. Although Ser5-P levels increase, the overall occupancy of RNAPII either decreases or stays the same in the absence ofRTR1. Additionally, the loss of Rtr1in vivoleads to increases in H3K36me3 levels genome-wide, while total histone H3 levels remain relatively constant within coding regions. Overall, these findings suggest that Rtr1 regulates H3K36me3 levels through changes in the number of binding sites for the histone methyltransferase Set2, thereby influencing both the CTD and histone codes.

2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1631-1648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Chernukhin ◽  
Shaharum Shamsuddin ◽  
Sung Yun Kang ◽  
Rosita Bergström ◽  
Yoo-Wook Kwon ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT CTCF is a transcription factor with highly versatile functions ranging from gene activation and repression to the regulation of insulator function and imprinting. Although many of these functions rely on CTCF-DNA interactions, it is an emerging realization that CTCF-dependent molecular processes involve CTCF interactions with other proteins. In this study, we report the association of a subpopulation of CTCF with the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) protein complex. We identified the largest subunit of Pol II (LS Pol II) as a protein significantly colocalizing with CTCF in the nucleus and specifically interacting with CTCF in vivo and in vitro. The role of CTCF as a link between DNA and LS Pol II has been reinforced by the observation that the association of LS Pol II with CTCF target sites in vivo depends on intact CTCF binding sequences. “Serial” chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis revealed that both CTCF and LS Pol II were present at the β-globin insulator in proliferating HD3 cells but not in differentiated globin synthesizing HD3 cells. Further, a single wild-type CTCF target site (N-Myc-CTCF), but not the mutant site deficient for CTCF binding, was sufficient to activate the transcription from the promoterless reporter gene in stably transfected cells. Finally, a ChIP-on-ChIP hybridization assay using microarrays of a library of CTCF target sites revealed that many intergenic CTCF target sequences interacted with both CTCF and LS Pol II. We discuss the possible implications of our observations with respect to plausible mechanisms of transcriptional regulation via a CTCF-mediated direct link of LS Pol II to the DNA.


2011 ◽  
Vol 286 (41) ◽  
pp. 35553-35561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidija Staresincic ◽  
Jane Walker ◽  
A. Barbara Dirac-Svejstrup ◽  
Richard Mitter ◽  
Jesper Q. Svejstrup

We identified XAB1 in a proteomic screen for factors that interact with human RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). Because XAB1 has a conserved Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologue called Npa3, yeast genetics and biochemical analysis were used to dissect the significance of the interaction. Degron-dependent Npa3 depletion resulted in genome-wide transcription decreases, correlating with a loss of RNAPII from genes as measured by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Surprisingly, however, transcription in vitro was unaffected by Npa3, suggesting that it affects a process that is not required for transcription in yeast extracts. Indeed, Npa3 depletion in vivo affects nuclear localization of RNAPII; the polymerase accumulates in the cytoplasm. Npa3 is a member of the GPN-LOOP family of GTPases. Npa3 mutants that either cannot bind GTP or that bind but cannot hydrolyze it are inviable and unable to support nuclear transport of RNAPII. Surprisingly, we were unable to detect interactions between Npa3 and proteins in the classical importin α/β pathway for nuclear import. Interestingly, Npa3-RNAPII binding is significantly increased by the addition of GTP or its slowly hydrolyzable analogue guanosine 5′-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTPγS). Moreover, the Npa3 mutant that binds GTP, but cannot hydrolyze it, binds RNAPII even in the absence of added GTP, whereas the mutant that cannot bind GTP is unable to bind the polymerase. Together, our data suggest that Npa3 defines an unconventional pathway for nuclear import of RNAPII, which involves GTP-dependent binding of Npa3 to the polymerase.


2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (20) ◽  
pp. 8963-8969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Bird ◽  
Diego A. R. Zorio ◽  
David L. Bentley

ABSTRACT We investigated the role of RNA polymerase II (pol II) carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) phosphorylation in pre-mRNA processing coupled and uncoupled from transcription in Xenopus oocytes. Inhibition of CTD phosphorylation by the kinase inhibitors 5,6-dichloro-1β-d-ribofuranosyl-benzimidazole and H8 blocked transcription-coupled splicing and poly(A) site cleavage. These experiments suggest that pol II CTD phosphorylation is required for efficient pre-mRNA splicing and 3′-end formation in vivo. In contrast, processing of injected pre-mRNA was unaffected by either kinase inhibitors or α-amanitin-induced depletion of pol II. pol II therefore does not appear to participate directly in posttranscriptional processing, at least in frog oocytes. Together these experiments show that the influence of the phosphorylated CTD on pre-mRNA splicing and 3′-end processing is mediated by transcriptional coupling.


2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 2059-2073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria H. Cowling ◽  
Michael D. Cole

ABSTRACT Myc is a transcription factor which is dependent on its DNA binding domain for transcriptional regulation of target genes. Here, we report the surprising finding that Myc mutants devoid of direct DNA binding activity and Myc target gene regulation can rescue a substantial fraction of the growth defect in myc −/− fibroblasts. Expression of the Myc transactivation domain alone induces a transcription-independent elevation of the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) C-terminal domain (CTD) kinases cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) and CDK9 and a global increase in CTD phosphorylation. The Myc transactivation domain binds to the transcription initiation sites of these promoters and stimulates TFIIH binding in an MBII-dependent manner. Expression of the Myc transactivation domain increases CDK mRNA cap methylation, polysome loading, and the rate of translation. We find that some traditional Myc transcriptional target genes are also regulated by this Myc-driven translation mechanism. We propose that Myc transactivation domain-driven RNA Pol II CTD phosphorylation has broad effects on both transcription and mRNA metabolism.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (21) ◽  
pp. 9447-9459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhargavi Rao ◽  
Yoichiro Shibata ◽  
Brian D. Strahl ◽  
Jason D. Lieb

ABSTRACT Set2p, which mediates histone H3 lysine 36 dimethylation (H3K36me2) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been shown to associate with RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) at individual loci. Here, chromatin immunoprecipitation-microarray experiments normalized to general nucleosome occupancy reveal that nucleosomes within open reading frames (ORFs) and downstream noncoding chromatin were highly dimethylated at H3K36 and that Set2p activity begins at a stereotypic distance from the initiation of transcription genome-wide. H3K36me2 is scarce in regions upstream of divergently transcribed genes, telomeres, silenced mating loci, and regions transcribed by RNA polymerase III, providing evidence that the enzymatic activity of Set2p is restricted to its association with RNAP II. The presence of H3K36me2 within ORFs correlated with the “on” or“ off” state of transcription, but the degree of H3K36 dimethylation within ORFs did not correlate with transcription frequency. This provides evidence that H3K36me2 is established during the initial instances of gene transcription, with subsequent transcription having at most a maintenance role. Accordingly, newly activated genes acquire H3K36me2 in a manner that does not correlate with gene transcript levels. Finally, nucleosomes dimethylated at H3K36 appear to be refractory to loss from highly transcribed chromatin. Thus, H3K36me2, which is highly conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution, provides a stable molecular mechanism for establishing chromatin context throughout the genome by distinguishing potential regulatory regions from transcribed chromatin.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 321-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran Taube ◽  
Xin Lin ◽  
Dan Irwin ◽  
Koh Fujinaga ◽  
B. Matija Peterlin

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


2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 3601-3611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Gullerova ◽  
Andrea Barta ◽  
Zdravko J. Lorkovic

ABSTRACT Phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) is a dynamic process that regulates transcription and coordinates it with pre-mRNA processing. We show here that Rct1, a nuclear multidomain cyclophilin from Schizosaccharomyces pombe, is encoded by an essential gene that interacts with the CTD and regulates its phosphorylation in vivo. Downregulation of Rct1 levels results in increased phosphorylation of the CTD at both Ser2 and Ser5 and in a commensurate decrease in RNAP II transcription. In contrast, overexpression of Rct1 decreases phosphorylation on both sites. The close association of Rct1 with transcriptionally active chromatin suggests a role in regulation of RNAP II transcriptional activity. These data, together with the pleiotropic phenotype upon Rct1 deregulation, suggest that this multidomain cyclophilin is an important player in maintaining the correct phosphorylation code of the CTD and thereby regulating CTD function.


2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (16) ◽  
pp. 4915-4926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Youdell ◽  
Kelby O. Kizer ◽  
Elena Kisseleva-Romanova ◽  
Stephen M. Fuchs ◽  
Eris Duro ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Set2 (KMT3)-dependent methylation (me) of histone H3 at lysine 36 (H3K36) promotes deacetylation of transcribed chromatin and represses cryptic promoters within genes. Although Set2 is the only methyltransferase (KMTase) for H3K36 in yeast, it is not known if Set2 is regulated or whether the different methylation states at H3K36 are functionally distinct. Here we show that the N-terminal 261 residues of Set2 (Set21-261), containing the SET KMTase domain, are sufficient for H3K36me2, histone deacetylation, and repression of cryptic promoters at STE11. Set2-catalyzed H3K36me2 does not require either Ctk1-dependent phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) or the presence of the phospho-C-terminal domain (CTD) interaction (SRI) domain of Set2. This finding is consistent with a known correlation between H3K36me2 and whether a gene is on or off, but not the level of activity of a gene. By contrast, H3K36me3 requires Spt6, proline 38 on histone H3 (H3P38), the CTD of RNAPII, Ctk1, and the C-terminal SRI domain of Set2. We suggest that the C-terminal region of Set2, in conjunction with the phosphorylated CTD of RNAPII, influences the KMTase activity to promote H3K36me3 during transcription elongation.


2020 ◽  
pp. jbc.RA120.015876
Author(s):  
Yating Wang ◽  
Liming Hou ◽  
M. Behfar Ardehali ◽  
Robert E. Kingston ◽  
Brian D Dynlacht

Elongin is an RNA polymerase II (RNAPII)-associated factor that has been shown to stimulate transcriptional elongation in vitro. The Elongin complex is thought to be required for transcriptional induction in response to cellular stimuli and to ubiquitinate RNAPII in response to DNA damage. Yet the impact of the Elongin complex on transcription in vivo has not been well studied. Here, we performed comprehensive studies of the role of Elongin A, the largest subunit of the Elongin complex, on RNAPII transcription genome-wide. Our results suggest that Elongin A localizes to actively transcribed regions and potential enhancers, and the level of recruitment correlated with transcription levels. We also identified a large group of factors involved in transcription as Elongin A-associated factors. In addition, we found that loss of Elongin A leads to dramatically reduced levels of Ser2-phosphorylated, but not total, RNAPII, and cells depleted of Elongin A show stronger promoter RNAPII pausing, suggesting that Elongin A may be involved in the release of paused RNAPII. Our RNA-seq studies suggest that loss of Elongin A did not alter global transcription, and unlike prior in vitro studies, we did not observe a dramatic impact on RNAPII elongation rates in our cell-based nascent RNA-seq experiments upon Elongin A depletion. Taken together, our studies provide the first comprehensive analysis of the role of Elongin A in regulating transcription in vivo. Our studies also revealed that unlike prior in vitro findings, depletion of Elongin A has little impact on global transcription profiles and transcription elongation in vivo.


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