Transcriptional properties of BmX, a moderately repetitive silkworm gene that is an RNA polymerase III template

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 624-631
Author(s):  
E T Wilson ◽  
D P Condliffe ◽  
K U Sprague
Keyword(s):  
Control Region ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
Sequence Element ◽  
Direct Transcription ◽  
Factor Binding ◽  
Large Gene ◽  
Polymerase Iii ◽  
Downstream Control

We analyzed the transcriptional properties of a repetitive sequence element, BmX, that belongs to a large gene family (approximately 2 x 10(4) copies) in the genome of the Bombyx mori silkworm. We discovered BmX elements because of their ability to direct transcription by polymerase III in vitro and used them to test the generality of the properties of previously identified silkworm polymerase III control elements. We found that the signals that act in cis to control BmX transcription strongly resemble those that direct transcription of other silkworm polymerase III templates. As with silkworm tRNA and 5S RNA genes, transcription of BmX requires sequence signals located both upstream and downstream from the site of transcription initiation. The critical upstream sequences are structurally as well as functionally similar in the three kinds of templates. The downstream control region of BmX resembles the corresponding part of a silkworm alanine tRNA gene in that it provides a large (greater than 100 base pairs) region that influences transcription factor binding. Moreover, the factor-binding regions of both tRNA(Ala) and BmX genes are remarkable in that under certain conditions, key elements within them (the B boxes, for example) appear dispensable. This behavior can be understood if, in both of these templates, the downstream control region acts as a large target for interaction with a multifactor complex.

scholarly journals Transcriptional properties of BmX, a moderately repetitive silkworm gene that is an RNA polymerase III template.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 624-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
E T Wilson ◽  
D P Condliffe ◽  
K U Sprague
Keyword(s):  
Control Region ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
Sequence Element ◽  
Direct Transcription ◽  
Factor Binding ◽  
Large Gene ◽  
Polymerase Iii ◽  
Downstream Control

We analyzed the transcriptional properties of a repetitive sequence element, BmX, that belongs to a large gene family (approximately 2 x 10(4) copies) in the genome of the Bombyx mori silkworm. We discovered BmX elements because of their ability to direct transcription by polymerase III in vitro and used them to test the generality of the properties of previously identified silkworm polymerase III control elements. We found that the signals that act in cis to control BmX transcription strongly resemble those that direct transcription of other silkworm polymerase III templates. As with silkworm tRNA and 5S RNA genes, transcription of BmX requires sequence signals located both upstream and downstream from the site of transcription initiation. The critical upstream sequences are structurally as well as functionally similar in the three kinds of templates. The downstream control region of BmX resembles the corresponding part of a silkworm alanine tRNA gene in that it provides a large (greater than 100 base pairs) region that influences transcription factor binding. Moreover, the factor-binding regions of both tRNA(Ala) and BmX genes are remarkable in that under certain conditions, key elements within them (the B boxes, for example) appear dispensable. This behavior can be understood if, in both of these templates, the downstream control region acts as a large target for interaction with a multifactor complex.

scholarly journals Termination-altering mutations in the second-largest subunit of yeast RNA polymerase III.

1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 1467-1478 ◽  
Author(s):  
S A Shaaban ◽  
B M Krupp ◽  
B D Hall
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Transcription Termination ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
In Vitro Transcription ◽  
The Other ◽  
Polymerase Iii

In order to identify catalytically important amino acid changes within the second-largest subunit of yeast RNA polymerase III, we mutagenized selected regions of its gene (RET1) and devised in vivo assays for both increased and decreased transcription termination by this enzyme. Using as the reporter gene a mutant SUP4-o tRNA gene that in one case terminates prematurely and in the other case fails to terminate, we screened mutagenized RET1 libraries for reduced and increased transcription termination, respectively. The gain in suppression phenotype was in both cases scored as a reduction in the accumulation of red pigment in yeast strains harboring the ade2-1 ochre mutation. Termination-altering mutations were obtained in regions of the RET1 gene encoding amino acids 300 to 325, 455 to 486, 487 to 521, and 1061 to 1082 of the protein. In degree of amino acid sequence conservation, these range from highly variable in the first to highly conserved in the last two regions. Residues 300 to 325 yielded mainly reduced-termination mutants, while in region 1061 to 1082, increased-termination mutants were obtained exclusively. All mutants recovered, while causing gain of suppression with one SUP4 allele, brought about a reduction in suppression with the other allele, thus confirming that the phenotype is due to altered termination rather than an elevated level of transcription initiation. In vitro transcription reactions performed with extracts from several strong mutants demonstrated that the mutant polymerases respond to RNA terminator sequences in a manner that matches their in vivo termination phenotypes.

scholarly journals Functional and Structural Organization of Brf, the TFIIB-Related Component of the RNA Polymerase III Transcription Initiation Complex

1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 5587-5599 ◽  
Author(s):  
George A. Kassavetis ◽  
Ashok Kumar ◽  
Enrique Ramirez ◽  
E. Peter Geiduschek
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Polymerase Iii ◽  
Dna Complex

ABSTRACT Brf is the TFIIB-related component of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA polymerase III transcription initiation factor IIIB (TFIIIB). An extensive set of Brf fragments has been examined for the abilities to assemble the TFIIIB-DNA complex and recruit RNA polymerase III to accurately initiate transcription. The principal TFIIIB-assembly function of Brf was found to be contributed by a C-proximal segment spanning amino acids 435 to 545, while the principal transcription-directing function was contributed by a segment of its N-proximal, TFIIB-homologous half. The diverse activities of Brf were also reconstituted from combined fragments. The fragments spanning amino acids 1 to 282 and 284 to 596 were found to assemble into TFIIIB-DNA and TFIIIC-TFIIIB-DNA complexes that were very stable, transcriptionally highly active, and indistinguishable (by in vitro footprinting) from complexes formed with intact Brf. The proximities of the individual halves of split Brf to DNA were extensively mapped by photochemical cross-linking of the TFIIIB-DNA complex. We also identified sites of interaction of Brf fragments with TATA-binding protein (TBP), taking advantage of a recently completed mutational analysis of the TBP surface. The constraints established by these analyses specify a global model of the functional segments of Brf and how they fit into the structure of the TFIIIB-DNA complex.

scholarly journals BC1 RNA: transcriptional analysis of a neural cell-specific RNA polymerase III transcript.

1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 1642-1650 ◽  
Author(s):  
J A Martignetti ◽  
J Brosius
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
Neural Cell ◽  
Transcriptional Analysis ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Sequence Element ◽  
In Vitro System ◽  
Polymerase Iii ◽  
Pol Iii

Rodent BC1 RNA represents the first example of a neural cell-specific RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcription product. By developing a rat brain in vitro system capable of supporting Pol III-directed transcription, we showed that the rat BC1 RNA intragenic promoter elements, comprising an A box element and a variant B box element, as well as its upstream region, containing octamer-binding consensus sequences and functional TATA and proximal sequence element sites, are necessary for transcription. The BC1 B box, lacking the invariant A residue found in the consensus B boxes of tRNAs, represents a functionally related and possibly distinct promoter element. The transcriptional activity of the BC1 B box element is greatly increased, in both a BC1 RNA and a chimeric tRNA(Leu) gene construct, when the BC1 5' flanking region is present and is appropriately spaced. Moreover, a tRNA consensus B-box sequence can efficiently replace the BC1 B box only if the BC1 upstream region is removed. These interactions, identified only in a homologous in vitro system, between upstream Pol II and intragenic Pol III promoters suggest a mechanism by which the tissue-specific BC1 RNA gene and possibly other Pol III-transcribed genes can be regulated.

scholarly journals Insights into Transcription Initiation and Termination from the Electron Microscopy Structure of Yeast RNA Polymerase III

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 813-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Fernández-Tornero ◽  
Bettina Böttcher ◽  
Michel Riva ◽  
Christophe Carles ◽  
Ulrich Steuerwald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
Polymerase Iii

scholarly journals Upstream basal promoter element important for exclusive RNA polymerase III transcription of the EBER 2 gene.

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2655-2665 ◽  
Author(s):  
J G Howe ◽  
M D Shu
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
Class Ii ◽  
Transcription Unit ◽  
Tata Box ◽  
Promoter Element ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
Polymerase Iii

The Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (EBER) genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase III, but their transcription unit appears to contain both class II and class III promoter elements. One of these promoter element, a TATA-like box which we call the EBER TATA box, or ETAB, is located in a position typical for a class II TATA box but contains G/C residues in the normal T/A motif and a conserved thymidine doublet. Experiments using chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs and mutations in the TATA box of the adenovirus major late promoter showed that the ETAB promoter element does not substitute for a class II TATA box. However, when the ETAB promoter element sequence was changed to a class II TATA box consensus sequence, the EBER 2 gene was transcribed in vitro by both RNA polymerases II and III. From these results, we conclude that the ETAB promoter element is important for the exclusive transcription of the EBER 2 gene by RNA polymerase III.

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