scholarly journals EWS, but Not EWS-FLI-1, Is Associated with Both TFIID and RNA Polymerase II: Interactions between Two Members of the TET Family, EWS and hTAFII68, and Subunits of TFIID and RNA Polymerase II Complexes

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1489-1497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Bertolotti ◽  
Thomas Melot ◽  
Joël Acker ◽  
Marc Vigneron ◽  
Olivier Delattre ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The t(11;22) chromosomal translocation specifically linked to Ewing sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor results in a chimeric molecule fusing the amino-terminus-encoding region of theEWS gene to the carboxyl-terminal DNA-binding domain encoded by the FLI-1 gene. As the function of the protein encoded by the EWS gene remains unknown, we investigated the putative role of EWS in RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription by comparing its activity with that of its structural homolog, hTAFII68. We demonstrate that a portion of EWS is able to associate with the basal transcription factor TFIID, which is composed of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and TBP-associated factors (TAFIIs). In vitro binding studies revealed that both EWS and hTAFII68 interact with the same TFIID subunits, suggesting that the presence of EWS and that of hTAFII68 in the same TFIID complex may be mutually exclusive. Moreover, EWS is not exclusively associated with TFIID but, similarly to hTAFII68, is also associated with the Pol II complex. The subunits of Pol II that interact with EWS and hTAFII68 have been identified, confirming the association with the polymerase. In contrast to EWS, the tumorigenic EWS–FLI-1 fusion protein is not associated with either TFIID or Pol II in Ewing cell nuclear extracts. These observations suggest that EWS and EWS–FLI-1 may play different roles in Pol II transcription.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xizi Chen ◽  
Yilun Qi ◽  
Xinxin Wang ◽  
Zhenning Wang ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
...  

RNA polymerase II (Pol II)-mediated transcription in metazoan requires precise regulation. RNA polymerase II-associated protein 2 (RPAP2) was previously identified to transport Pol II from cytoplasm to nucleus and dephosphorylates Pol II C-terminal domain (CTD). We found that RPAP2 binds hypo/hyper-phosphorylated Pol II with undetectable phosphatase activity. Structure of RPAP2-Pol II shows mutually exclusive assembly of RPAP2-Pol II and pre-initiation complex (PIC) due to three steric clashes. RPAP2 prevents/disrupts Pol II-TFIIF interaction and impairs in vitro transcription initiation, suggesting a function in prohibiting PIC assembly. Loss of RPAP2 in cells leads to global accumulation of TFIIF and Pol II at promoters, indicating critical role of RPAP2 in inhibiting PIC assembly independent of its putative phosphatase activity. Our study indicates that RPAP2 functions as a gatekeeper to prohibit PIC assembly and transcription initiation and suggests a novel transcription checkpoint.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1817-1823 ◽  
Author(s):  
T P Cujec ◽  
H Cho ◽  
E Maldonado ◽  
J Meyer ◽  
D Reinberg ◽  
...  

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encodes a transcriptional transactivator (Tat), which binds to an RNA hairpin called the transactivation response element (TAR) that is located downstream of the site of initiation of viral transcription. Tat stimulates the production of full-length viral transcripts by RNA polymerase II (pol II). In this study, we demonstrate that Tat coimmunoprecipitates with the pol II holoenzyme in cells and that it binds to the purified holoenzyme in vitro. Furthermore, Tat affinity chromatography purifies a holoenzyme from HeLa nuclear extracts which, upon addition of TBP and TFIIB, supports Tat transactivation in vitro, indicating that it contains all the cellular proteins required for the function of Tat. By demonstrating that Tat interacts with the holoenzyme in the absence of TAR, our data suggest a single-step assembly of Tat and the transcription complex on the long terminal repeat of HIV.


2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 1721-1735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Liu ◽  
Charles Kung ◽  
James Fishburn ◽  
Aseem Z. Ansari ◽  
Kevan M. Shokat ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Three cyclin-dependent kinases, CDK7, -8, and -9, are specifically involved in transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and target the Pol II C-terminal domain (CTD). The role of CDK7 and CDK8 kinase activity in transcription has been unclear, with CDK7 shown to have variable effects on transcription and CDK8 suggested to repress transcription and/or to target other gene-specific factors. Using a chemical genetics approach, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologs of these kinases, Kin28 and Srb10, were engineered to respond to a specific inhibitor and the inhibitor was used to test the role of these kinases in transcription in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, these kinases can both promote transcription, with up to 70% of transcription abolished when both kinases are inhibited together. Similarly, in vivo inhibition of both kinases together gives the strongest decrease in transcription, as measured by chromatin immunoprecipitation of Pol II. Kin28 and Srb10 also have overlapping roles in promoting ATP-dependent dissociation of the preinitiation complex (PIC) into the Scaffold complex. Using the engineered kinases and an ATP analog, specific kinase substrates within the PIC were identified. In addition to the previously known substrate, the Pol II CTD, it was found that Kin28 phosphorylates two subunits of Mediator and Srb10 targets two subunits of TFIID for phosphorylation.


2001 ◽  
Vol 276 (15) ◽  
pp. 12266-12273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenxiang Wei ◽  
Dorjbal Dorjsuren ◽  
Yong Lin ◽  
Weiping Qin ◽  
Takahiro Nomura ◽  
...  

The general transcription factor IIF (TFIIF) assembled in the initiation complex, and RAP30 of TFIIF, have been shown to associate with RNA polymerase II (pol II), although it remains unclear which pol II subunit is responsible for the interaction. We examined whether TFIIF interacts with RNA polymerase II subunit 5 (RPB5), the exposed domain of which binds transcriptional regulatory factors such as hepatitis B virus X protein and a novel regulatory protein, RPB5-mediating protein. The results demonstrated that RPB5 directly binds RAP30in vitrousing purified recombinant proteins andin vivoin COS1 cells transiently expressing recombinant RAP30 and RPB5. The RAP30-binding region was mapped to the central region (amino acids (aa) 47–120) of RPB5, which partly overlaps the hepatitis B virus X protein-binding region. Although the middle part (aa 101–170) and the N-terminus (aa 1–100) of RAP30 independently bound RPB5, the latter was not involved in the RPB5 binding when RAP30 was present in TFIIF complex. Scanning of the middle part of RAP30 by clustered alanine substitutions and then point alanine substitutions pinpointed two residues critical for the RPB5 binding inin vitroandin vivoassays. Wild type but not mutants Y124A and Q131A of RAP30 coexpressed with FLAG-RAP74 efficiently recovered endogenous RPB5 to the FLAG-RAP74-bound anti-FLAG M2 resin. The recovered endogenous RPB5 is assembled in pol II as demonstrated immunologically. Interestingly, coexpression of the central region of RPB5 and wild type RAP30 inhibited recovery of endogenous pol II to the FLAG-RAP74-bound M2 resin, strongly suggesting that the RAP30-binding region of RPB5 inhibited the association of TFIIF and pol II. The exposed domain of RPB5 interacts with RAP30 of TFIIF and is important for the association between pol II and TFIIF.


2007 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 1118-1127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinhong Chang ◽  
Xingcao Nie ◽  
Ho Eun Chang ◽  
Ziying Han ◽  
John Taylor

ABSTRACT Previous studies have indicated that the replication of the RNA genome of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) involves redirection of RNA polymerase II (Pol II), a host enzyme that normally uses DNA as a template. However, there has been some controversy about whether in one part of this HDV RNA transcription, a polymerase other than Pol II is involved. The present study applied a recently described cell system (293-HDV) of tetracycline-inducible HDV RNA replication to provide new data regarding the involvement of host polymerases in HDV transcription. The data generated with a nuclear run-on assay demonstrated that synthesis not only of genomic RNA but also of its complement, the antigenome, could be inhibited by low concentrations of amanitin specific for Pol II transcription. Subsequent studies used immunoprecipitation and rate-zonal sedimentation of nuclear extracts together with double immunostaining of 293-HDV cells, in order to examine the associations between Pol II and HDV RNAs, as well as the small delta antigen, an HDV-encoded protein known to be essential for replication. Findings include evidence that HDV replication is somehow able to direct the available delta antigen to sites in the nucleoplasm, almost exclusively colocalized with Pol II in what others have described as transcription factories.


1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1339-1348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Strauss ◽  
M. Isabel Muro-Pastor ◽  
Claudio Scazzocchio

ABSTRACT The regulation of nitrate assimilation seems to follow the same pattern in all ascomycetes where this process has been studied. We show here by in vitro binding studies and a number of protection and interference techniques that the transcription factor mediating nitrate induction in Aspergillus nidulans, a protein containing a binuclear zinc cluster DNA binding domain, recognizes an asymmetrical sequence of the form CTCCGHGG. We further show that the protein binds to its consensus site as a dimer. We establish the role of the putative dimerization element by its ability to replace the analogous element of the cI protein of phage λ. Mutagenesis of crucial leucines of the dimerization element affect both the binding ability of the dimer and the conformation of the resulting protein-DNA complex. This is the first case to be described where a dimer recognizes such an asymmetrical nonrepeated sequence, presumably by each monomeric subunit making different contacts with different DNA half-sites.


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (46) ◽  
pp. 12172-12177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Malvezzi ◽  
Lucas Farnung ◽  
Claudia M. N. Aloisi ◽  
Todor Angelov ◽  
Patrick Cramer ◽  
...  

Several anticancer agents that form DNA adducts in the minor groove interfere with DNA replication and transcription to induce apoptosis. Therapeutic resistance can occur, however, when cells are proficient in the removal of drug-induced damage. Acylfulvenes are a class of experimental anticancer agents with a unique repair profile suggesting their capacity to stall RNA polymerase (Pol) II and trigger transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair. Here we show how different forms of DNA alkylation impair transcription by RNA Pol II in cells and with the isolated enzyme and unravel a mode of RNA Pol II stalling that is due to alkylation of DNA in the minor groove. We incorporated a model for acylfulvene adducts, the stable 3-deaza-3-methoxynaphtylethyl-adenosine analog (3d-Napht-A), and smaller 3-deaza-adenosine analogs, into DNA oligonucleotides to assess RNA Pol II transcription elongation in vitro. RNA Pol II was strongly blocked by a 3d-Napht-A analog but bypassed smaller analogs. Crystal structure analysis revealed that a DNA base containing 3d-Napht-A can occupy the +1 templating position and impair closing of the trigger loop in the Pol II active center and polymerase translocation into the next template position. These results show how RNA Pol II copes with minor-groove DNA alkylation and establishes a mechanism for drug resistance.


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.


1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 705-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
U Fischer ◽  
E Darzynkiewicz ◽  
S M Tahara ◽  
N A Dathan ◽  
R Lührmann ◽  
...  

The requirements for nuclear targeting of a number of U snRNAs have been studied by analyzing the behavior of in vitro-generated transcripts after microinjection into the cytoplasm of Xenopus oocytes. Like the previously studied U1 snRNA, U2 snRNA is excluded from the nucleus when it does not have the 2,2,7mGpppN cap structure typical of the RNA polymerase II (pol II)-transcribed U snRNAs. Surprisingly, two other pol II-transcribed U snRNAs, U4 and U5, have a much less stringent requirement for the trimethyl cap structure. The gamma-monomethyl triphosphate cap structure of the RNA polymerase III-transcribed U6 snRNA, on the other hand, is shown not to play a role in nuclear targeting. Wheat germ agglutinin, which is known to prevent the import of many proteins into the nucleus, inhibits nuclear uptake of U6, but not of U1 or U5 snRNAs. Conversely, a 2,2,7mGpppG dinucleotide analogue of the trimethyl cap structure inhibits transport of the pol II U snRNAs, but does not detectably affect the transport of either U6 snRNA or a karyophilic protein. From these results it can be deduced that U6 enters the nucleus by a pathway similar or identical to that used by karyophilic proteins. The composite nuclear localization signals of the trimethyl cap-containing U snRNPs, however, do not function in the same way as previously defined nuclear targeting signals.


1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 2672-2680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayelet Sheffer ◽  
Mazal Varon ◽  
Mordechai Choder

ABSTRACT Rpb4 and Rpb7 are two yeast RNA polymerase II (Pol II) subunits whose mechanistic roles have recently started to be deciphered. Although previous data suggest that Rpb7 can stably interact with Pol II only as a heterodimer with Rpb4, RPB7 is essential for viability, whereas RPB4 is essential only during some stress conditions. To resolve this discrepancy and to gain a better understanding of the mode of action of Rpb4, we took advantage of the inability of cells lacking RPB4 (rpb4Δ, containing Pol IIΔ4) to grow above 30°C and screened for genes whose overexpression could suppress this defect. We thus discovered that overexpression of RPB7 could suppress the inability ofrpb4Δ cells to grow at 34°C (a relatively mild temperature stress) but not at higher temperatures. Overexpression ofRPB7 could also partially suppress the cold sensitivity ofrpb4Δ strains and fully suppress their inability to survive a long starvation period (stationary phase). Notably, however, overexpression of RPB4 could not override the requirement for RPB7. Consistent with the growth phenotype, overexpression of RPB7 could suppress the transcriptional defect characteristic of rpb4Δ cells during the mild, but not during a more severe, heat shock. We also demonstrated, through two reciprocal coimmunoprecipitation experiments, a stable interaction of the overproduced Rpb7 with Pol IIΔ4. Nevertheless, fewer Rpb7 molecules interacted with Pol IIΔ4 than with wild-type Pol II. Thus, a major role of Rpb4 is to augment the interaction of Rpb7 with Pol II. We suggest that Pol IIΔ4 contains a small amount of Rpb7 that is sufficient to support transcription only under nonstress conditions. When RPB7 is overexpressed, more Rpb7 assembles with Pol IIΔ4, enough to permit appropriate transcription also under some stress conditions.


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