scholarly journals Transcriptional corepression in vitro: a Mot1p-associated form of TATA-binding protein is required for repression by Leu3p.

1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 1641-1648 ◽  
Author(s):  
P A Wade ◽  
J A Jaehning

Signals from transcriptional activators to the general mRNA transcription apparatus are communicated by factors associated with RNA polymerase II or the TATA-binding protein (TBP). Currently, little is known about how gene-specific transcription repressors communicate with RNA polymerase II. We have analyzed the requirements for repression by the saccharomyces cerevisiae Leu3 protein (Leu3p) in a reconstituted transcription system. We have identified a complex form of TBP which is required for communication of the repressing signal. This TFIID-like complex contains a known TBP-associated protein, Mot1p, which has been implicated in the repression of a subset of yeast genes by genetic analysis. Leu3p-dependent repression can be reconstituted with purified Mot1p and recombinant TBP. In addition, a mutation in the Mot1 gene leads to partial derepression of the Leu3p-dependent LEU2 promoter. These in vivo and in vitro observations define a role for Mot1p as a transcriptional corepressor.

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 6784-6793 ◽  
Author(s):  
C S Bangur ◽  
T S Pardee ◽  
A S Ponticelli

The general transcription factor IIB (TFIIB) plays an essential role in transcription of protein-coding genes by RNA polymerase II. We have used site-directed mutagenesis to assess the role of conserved amino acids in several important regions of yeast TFIIB. These include residues in the highly conserved amino-terminal region and basic residues in the D1 and E1 core domain alpha-helices. Acidic substitutions of residues K190 (D1) and K201 (E1) resulted in growth impairments in vivo, reduced basal transcriptional activity in vitro, and an inability to form stable TFIIB-TATA-binding protein-DNA (DB) complexes. Significantly, these mutants retained the ability to respond to acidic activators in vivo and to the Gal4-VP16 activator in vitro, supporting the view that these basic residues play a role in basal transcription. In addition, 14 single-amino-acid substitutions were introduced in the conserved amino-terminal region. Three of these mutants, the L50D, R64E, and R78L mutants, displayed altered growth properties in vivo and were compromised for supporting transcription in vitro. The L50D mutant was impaired for RNA polymerase II interaction, while the R64E mutant exhibited altered transcription start site selection both in vitro and in vivo and, surprisingly, was more active than the wild type in the formation of stable DB complexes. These results support the view that the amino-terminal domain is involved in the direct interaction between yeast TFIIB and RNA polymerase II and suggest that this domain may interact with DNA and/or modulate the formation of a DB complex.


1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3771-3781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Li ◽  
James L. Manley

ABSTRACT The Drosophila homeodomain protein Even-skipped (Eve) is a transcriptional repressor, and previous studies have suggested that it functions by interfering with the basal transcription machinery. Here we describe experiments indicating that the mechanism of Eve repression involves a direct interaction with the TATA binding protein (TBP) that blocks binding of TBP-TFIID to the promoter. We first compared Eve activities in in vitro transcription systems reconstituted with either all the general transcription factors or only TBP, TFIIB, TFIIF30, and RNA polymerase II. In each case, equivalent and very efficient levels of repression were observed, indicating that no factors other than those in the minimal system are required for repression. We then show that Eve can function efficiently when its recognition sites are far from the promoter and that the same regions of Eve required for repression in vivo are necessary and sufficient for in vitro repression. This includes, in addition to an Ala-Pro-rich region, residues within the homeodomain. Using GAL4-Eve fusion proteins, we demonstrate that the homeodomain plays a role in repression in addition to DNA binding, which is to facilitate interaction with TBP. Single-round transcription experiments indicate that Eve must function prior to TBP binding to the promoter, suggesting a mechanism whereby Eve represses by competing with the TATA box for TBP binding. Consistent with this, excess TATA box-containing oligonucleotide is shown to specifically and efficiently disrupt the TBP-Eve interaction. Importantly, we show that Eve binds directly to TFIID and that this interaction can also be disrupted by the TATA oligonucleotide. We conclude that Eve represses transcription via a direct interaction with TBP that blocks TFIID binding to the promoter.


2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 2886-2896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arindam Dasgupta ◽  
Rebekka O. Sprouse ◽  
Sarah French ◽  
Pavel Aprikian ◽  
Robert Hontz ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Mot1 is an essential, conserved, TATA-binding protein (TBP)-associated factor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with well-established roles in the global control of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription. Previous results have suggested that Mot1 functions exclusively in Pol II transcription, but here we report a novel role for Mot1 in regulating transcription by RNA polymerase I (Pol I). In vivo, Mot1 is associated with the ribosomal DNA, and loss of Mot1 results in decreased rRNA synthesis. Consistent with a direct role for Mot1 in Pol I transcription, Mot1 also associates with the Pol I promoter in vitro in a reaction that depends on components of the Pol I general transcription machinery. Remarkably, in addition to Mot1's role in initiation, rRNA processing is delayed in mot1 cells. Taken together, these results support a model in which Mot1 affects the rate and efficiency of rRNA synthesis by both direct and indirect mechanisms, with resulting effects on transcription activation and the coupling of rRNA synthesis to processing.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 1232-1237
Author(s):  
M E Clark ◽  
P M Lieberman ◽  
A J Berk ◽  
A Dasgupta

Host cell RNA polymerase II (Pol II)-mediated transcription is inhibited by poliovirus infection. This inhibition is correlated to a specific decrease in the activity of a chromatographic fraction which contains the transcription factor TFIID. To investigate the mechanism by which poliovirus infection results in a decrease of TFIID activity, we have analyzed a component of TFIID, the TATA-binding protein (TBP). Using Western immunoblot analysis, we show that TBP is cleaved in poliovirus-infected cells at the same time postinfection as when Pol II transcription is inhibited. Further, we show that one of the cleaved forms of TBP can be reproduced in vitro by incubating TBP with cloned, purified poliovirus encoded protease 3C. Protease 3C is a poliovirus-encoded protease that specifically cleaves glutamine-glycine bonds in the viral polyprotein. The cleavage of TBP by protease 3C occurs directly. Finally, incubation of an uninfected cell-derived TBP-containing fraction (TFIID) with protease 3C results in significant inhibition of Pol II-mediated transcription in vitro. These results demonstrate that a cellular transcription factor can be directly cleaved both in vitro and in vivo by a viral protease and suggest a role of the poliovirus proteinase 3C in host cell Pol II-mediated transcription shutoff.


1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1743-1753 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Wang ◽  
P R Nicholson ◽  
D J Stillman

A DNA-binding protein has been identified from extracts of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae which binds to sites present in the promoter regions of a number of yeast genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II, including SIN3 (also known as SDI1), SWI5, CDC9, and TOP1. This protein also binds to a site present in the enhancer for the 35S rRNA gene, which is transcribed by RNA polymerase I, and appears to be identical to the previously described REB1 protein (B. E. Morrow, S. P. Johnson, and J. R. Warner, J. Biol. Chem. 264:9061-9068, 1989). When oligonucleotides containing a REB1-binding site are placed between the CYC1 upstream activating sequence and TATA box, transcription by RNA polymerase II in vivo is substantially reduced, suggesting that REB1 acts as a repressor of RNA polymerase II transcription. The in vitro levels of the REB1 DNA-binding activity are reduced in extracts prepared from strains bearing a mutation in the SIN3 gene. A greater reduction in REB1 activity is observed if the sin3 mutant strain is grown in media containing galactose as a carbon source.


2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 4104-4117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongfang Qiu ◽  
Cuihua Hu ◽  
Sungpil Yoon ◽  
Krishnamurthy Natarajan ◽  
Mark J. Swanson ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Wild-type transcriptional activation by Gcn4p is dependent on multiple coactivators, including SAGA, SWI/SNF, Srb mediator, CCR4-NOT, and RSC, which are all recruited by Gcn4p to its target promoters in vivo. It was not known whether these coactivators are required for assembly of the preinitiation complex (PIC) or for subsequent steps in the initiation or elongation phase of transcription. We find that mutations in subunits of these coactivators reduce the recruitment of TATA binding protein (TBP) and RNA polymerase II (Pol II) by Gcn4p at ARG1, ARG4, and SNZ1, implicating all five coactivators in PIC assembly at Gcn4p target genes. Recruitment of Pol II at SNZ1 and ARG1 was eliminated by mutations in TBP or by deletion of the TATA box, indicating that TBP binding is a prerequisite for Pol II recruitment by Gcn4p. However, several mutations in SAGA subunits and deletion of SRB10 had a greater impact on promoter occupancy of Pol II versus TBP, suggesting that SAGA and Srb mediator can promote Pol II binding independently of their stimulatory effects on TBP recruitment. Our results reveal an unexpected complexity in the cofactor requirements for the enhancement of PIC assembly by a single activator protein.


2006 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer B. Palenchar ◽  
Wenzhe Liu ◽  
Peter M. Palenchar ◽  
Vivian Bellofatto

ABSTRACT Transcription by RNA polymerase II in trypanosomes deviates from the standard eukaryotic paradigm. Genes are transcribed polycistronically and subsequently cleaved into functional mRNAs, requiring trans splicing of a capped 39-nucleotide leader RNA derived from a short transcript, the spliced leader (SL) RNA. The only identified trypanosome RNA polymerase II promoter is that of the SL RNA gene. We have previously shown that transcription of SL RNA requires divergent trypanosome homologs of RNA polymerase II, TATA binding protein, and the small nuclear RNA (snRNA)-activating protein complex. In other eukaryotes, TFIIB is an additional key component of transcription for both mRNAs and polymerase II-dependent snRNAs. We have identified a divergent homolog of the usually highly conserved basal transcription factor, TFIIB, from the pathogenic parasite Trypanosoma brucei. T. brucei TFIIB (TbTFIIB) interacted directly with the trypanosome TATA binding protein and RNA polymerase II, confirming its identity. Functionally, in vitro transcription studies demonstrated that TbTFIIB is indispensable in SL RNA gene transcription. RNA interference (RNAi) studies corroborated the essential nature of TbTFIIB, as depletion of this protein led to growth arrest of parasites. Furthermore, nuclear extracts prepared from parasites depleted of TbTFIIB, after the induction of RNAi, required recombinant TbTFIIB to support spliced leader transcription. The information gleaned from TbTFIIB studies furthers our understanding of SL RNA gene transcription and the elusive overall transcriptional processes in trypanosomes.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 5269-5275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavel Aprikian ◽  
Beth Moorefield ◽  
Ronald H. Reeder

ABSTRACT The TATA binding protein (TBP) interacts with two transcription factor complexes, upstream activating factor (UAF) and core factor (CF), to direct transcription by RNA polymerase I (polI) in the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae. Previous work indicates that one function of TBP is to serve as a bridge, ennabling UAF to recruit and stabilize the binding of CF (23, 24). In this work we show that, in addition to aiding recruitment, TBP also directly aids CF function. Overexpression of TBP in strains with UAF components deleted will stimulate CF-directed transcription nearly to wild-type levels in vivo. In vitro, increasing the concentration of TBP stimulates CF-directed transcription in the absence of either UAF or its DNA binding site. This dual function of TBP, serving as a critical member of a core promoter complex as well as a contact point for upstream activators, appears similar to the dual roles that TBP also plays in transcription by RNA polII.


2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (22) ◽  
pp. 8323-8333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul B. Mason ◽  
Kevin Struhl

ABSTRACT The FACT complex facilitates transcription on chromatin templates in vitro, and it has been functionally linked to nucleosomes and putative RNA polymerase II (Pol II) elongation factors. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, FACT specifically associates with active Pol II genes in a TFIIH-dependent manner and travels across the gene with elongating Pol II. Conditional inactivation of the FACT subunit Spt16 results in increased Pol II density, transcription, and TATA-binding protein (TBP) occupancy in the 3′ portion of certain coding regions, indicating that FACT suppresses inappropriate initiation from cryptic promoters within coding regions. Conversely, loss of Spt16 activity reduces the association of TBP, TFIIB, and Pol II with normal promoters. Thus, FACT is required for wild-type cells to restrict initiation to normal promoters, thereby ensuring that only appropriate mRNAs are synthesized. We suggest that FACT contributes to the fidelity of Pol II transcription by linking the processes of initiation and elongation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document