scholarly journals Even-skipped Represses Transcription by Binding TATA Binding Protein and Blocking the TFIID-TATA Box Interaction

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.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoo Jin Joo ◽  
Scott B. Ficarro ◽  
Luis M. Soares ◽  
Yujin Chun ◽  
Jarrod A. Marto ◽  
...  

AbstractTFIID binds promoter DNA to recruit RNA polymerase II and other basal factors for transcription. Although the TATA-Binding Protein (TBP) subunit of TFIID is necessary and sufficient for in vitro transcription, the TBP-Associated Factor (TAF) subunits recognize downstream promoter elements, act as co-activators, and interact with nucleosomes. Here we show that transcription induces stable TAF binding to downstream promoter DNA, independent of upstream contacts, TBP, or other basal transcription factors. This transcription-dependent TAF complex promotes subsequent activator-independent transcription, and promoter response to TAF mutations in vivo correlates with the level of downstream, rather than overall, Taf1 crosslinking. We propose a new model in which TAFs function as reinitiation factors, accounting for the differential responses of promoters to various transcription factor mutations.


1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 5007-5016 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Um ◽  
C Li ◽  
J L Manley

The Drosophila homeodomain protein Even-skipped (Eve) has previously been shown to function as a sequence-specific transcriptional repressor, and in vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that the protein can actively block basal transcription. However, the mechanism of repression is not known. Here, we present evidence establishing a direct interaction between Eve and the TATA-binding protein (TBP). Using cotransfection assays with minimal basal promoters whose activity can be enhanced by coexpression of TBP, we found that Eve could efficiently block, or squelch, this enhancement. Squelching did not require Eve DNA-binding sites on the reporter plasmids but was dependent on the presence of the Eve repression domain. Further support for an in vivo interaction between the Eve repression domain and TBP was derived from a two-hybrid-type assay with transfected cells. Evidence that Eve and TBP interact directly was provided by in vitro binding assays, which revealed a specific protein-protein interaction that required an intact Eve repression domain and the conserved C terminus of TBP. The Eve homeodomain was also required for these associations, suggesting that it may function in protein-protein interactions. We also show that a previously characterized artificial repression region behaves in a manner similar to that of the Eve repression domain, including its ability to squelch TBP-enhanced expression in vivo and to bind TBP specifically in vitro. Our results suggest a model for transcriptional repression that involves an interaction between Eve and TBP.


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.


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.


2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (17) ◽  
pp. 11082-11094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achille François ◽  
Mickaël Guilbaud ◽  
Rafi Awedikian ◽  
Gilliane Chadeuf ◽  
Philippe Moullier ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The p5 promoter region of adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) is a multifunctional element involved in rep gene expression, Rep-dependent replication, and site-specific integration. We initially characterized a 350-bp p5 region by its ability to behave like a cis-acting replication element in the presence of Rep proteins and adenoviral factors. The objective of this study was to define the minimal elements within the p5 region required for Rep-dependent replication. Assays performed in transfected cells (in vivo) indicated that the minimal p5 element was composed by a 55-bp sequence (nucleotides 250 to 304 of wild-type AAV-2) containing the TATA box, the Rep binding site, the terminal resolution site present at the transcription initiation site (trs+1), and a downstream 17-bp region that could potentially form a hairpin structure localizing the trs+1 at the top of the loop. Interestingly, the TATA box was absolutely required for in vivo but dispensable for in vitro, i.e., cell-free, replication. We also demonstrated that Rep binding and nicking at the trs+1 was enhanced in the presence of the cellular TATA binding protein, and that overexpression of this cellular factor increased in vivo replication of the minimal p5 element. Together, these studies identified the minimal replication origin present within the AAV-2 p5 promoter region and demonstrated for the first time the involvement of the TATA box, in cis, and of the TATA binding protein, in trans, for Rep-dependent replication of this viral element.


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.


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.


2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (23) ◽  
pp. 8773-8785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Chung Hsu ◽  
Shu Liu ◽  
Ferishteh Abedinpour ◽  
Robert D. Beech ◽  
Jill M. Lahti ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The archetypal TATA-box deficient G+C-rich promoter of the murine adenosine deaminase gene (Ada) requires a 48-bp minimal self-sufficient promoter element (MSPE) for function. This MSPE was used to isolate a novel full-length cDNA clone that encodes a 66-kDa murine G+C-rich promoter binding protein (mGPBP). The mGPBP mRNAs are ubiquitously expressed as either 3.0- or 3.5-kb forms differing in 3′ polyadenylation site usage. Purified recombinant mGPBP, in the absence of any other mammalian cofactors, binds specifically to both the murine Ada gene promoter's MSPE and the nonhomologous human Topo IIα gene's G+C-rich promoter. In situ binding assays, immunoprecipitation, and Western blot analyses demonstrated that mGPBP is a nuclear factor that can form complexes with TATA-binding protein, TFIIB, TFIIF, RNA polymerase II, and P300/CBP both in vitro and in intact cells. In cotransfection assays, increased mGPBP expression transactivated the murine Ada gene's promoter. Sequestering of GPBP present in HeLa cell nuclear extract by immunoabsorption completely and reversibly suppressed extract-dependent in vitro transcription from the murine Ada gene's G+C-rich promoter. However, transcription from the human Topo IIα gene's TATA box-containing G+C-rich promoter was only partially suppressed and the adenovirus major late gene's classical TATA box-dependent promoter is totally unaffected under identical assay conditions. These results implicate GPBP as a requisite G+C-rich promoter-specific transcription factor and provide a mechanistic basis for distinguishing transcription initiated at a TATA box-deficient G+C-rich promoter from that initiated at a TATA box-dependent promoter.


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