scholarly journals Structural basis of the complete poxvirus transcription initiation process

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Utz Fischer ◽  
Clemens Grimm ◽  
Julia Bartuli ◽  
Bettina Böttcher ◽  
Aladar Szalay
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Major Groove ◽  
Promoter Escape ◽  
Universal Principles ◽  
Upstream Promoter ◽  
Promoter Recognition ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Early Transcription ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract Poxviruses express their genes in the cytoplasm of infected cells using a virus-encoded multi-subunit polymerase (vRNAP) and unique transcription factors. We present cryo-EM structures that uncover the complete transcription initiation of the poxvirus vaccinia. In the pre-initiation complex, the heterodimeric early transcription factor VETFs/l adopts an arc-like shape spanning the polymerase cleft and anchoring upstream and downstream promoter elements. VETFI emerges as a TBP-like protein that inserts asymmetrically into the DNA major groove, triggers DNA melting, ensures promoter recognition and enforces transcription directionality. The helicase VETFs fosters promoter melting and the phospho-peptide domain (PPD) of vRNAP subunit Rpo30 enables transcription initiation. An unprecedented upstream promoter scrunching mechanism assisted by the helicase NPH-I likely fosters promoter escape and transition into elongation. Our structures shed light on unique mechanisms of poxviral gene expression and aid the understanding of thus far unexplained universal principles in transcription.

scholarly journals Structures and mechanism of transcription initiation by bacterial ECF factors

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (13) ◽  
pp. 7094-7104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengli Fang ◽  
Lingting Li ◽  
Liqiang Shen ◽  
Jing Shi ◽  
Sheng Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Center ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Structure Prediction ◽  
Secondary Structure Prediction ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Initiation Complex ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Promoter Escape ◽  
Promoter Recognition ◽  
Transcription Initiation Complex

Abstract Bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) forms distinct holoenzymes with extra-cytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors to initiate specific gene expression programs. In this study, we report a cryo-EM structure at 4.0 Å of Escherichia coli transcription initiation complex comprising σE—the most-studied bacterial ECF σ factor (Ec σE-RPo), and a crystal structure at 3.1 Å of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transcription initiation complex with a chimeric σH/E (Mtb σH/E-RPo). The structure of Ec σE-RPo reveals key interactions essential for assembly of E. coli σE-RNAP holoenzyme and for promoter recognition and unwinding by E. coli σE. Moreover, both structures show that the non-conserved linkers (σ2/σ4 linker) of the two ECF σ factors are inserted into the active-center cleft and exit through the RNA-exit channel. We performed secondary-structure prediction of 27,670 ECF σ factors and find that their non-conserved linkers probably reach into and exit from RNAP active-center cleft in a similar manner. Further biochemical results suggest that such σ2/σ4 linker plays an important role in RPo formation, abortive production and promoter escape during ECF σ factors-mediated transcription initiation.

scholarly journals Structural basis for transcription initiation by bacterial ECF σ factors

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingting Li ◽  
Chengli Fang ◽  
Ningning Zhuang ◽  
Tiantian Wang ◽  
Yu Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Bacterial Rna ◽  
Promoter Recognition ◽  
Σ Factor ◽  
Transcription Initiation Complex ◽  
Promoter Dna ◽  
Context Specific

AbstractBacterial RNA polymerase employs extra-cytoplasmic function (ECF) σ factors to regulate context-specific gene expression programs. Despite being the most abundant and divergent σ factor class, the structural basis of ECF σ factor-mediated transcription initiation remains unknown. Here, we determine a crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) RNAP holoenzyme comprising an RNAP core enzyme and the ECF σ factor σH (σH-RNAP) at 2.7 Å, and solve another crystal structure of a transcription initiation complex of Mtb σH-RNAP (σH-RPo) comprising promoter DNA and an RNA primer at 2.8 Å. The two structures together reveal the interactions between σH and RNAP that are essential for σH-RNAP holoenzyme assembly as well as the interactions between σH-RNAP and promoter DNA responsible for stringent promoter recognition and for promoter unwinding. Our study establishes that ECF σ factors and primary σ factors employ distinct mechanisms for promoter recognition and for promoter unwinding.

scholarly journals Structural basis of ribosomal RNA transcription regulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeonoh Shin ◽  
M. Zuhaib Qayyum ◽  
Danil Pupov ◽  
Daria Esyunina ◽  
Andrey Kulbachinskiy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Complex Formation ◽  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
Promoter Escape ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Promoter Recognition ◽  
Carboxyl Terminal ◽  
Open Complex Formation ◽  
Template Dna

AbstractRibosomal RNA (rRNA) is most highly expressed in rapidly growing bacteria and is drastically downregulated under stress conditions by the global transcriptional regulator DksA and the alarmone ppGpp. Here, we determined cryo-electron microscopy structures of the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNAP) σ70 holoenzyme during rRNA promoter recognition with and without DksA/ppGpp. RNAP contacts the UP element using dimerized α subunit carboxyl-terminal domains and scrunches the template DNA with the σ finger and β’ lid to select the transcription start site favorable for rapid promoter escape. Promoter binding induces conformational change of σ domain 2 that opens a gate for DNA loading and ejects σ1.1 from the RNAP cleft to facilitate open complex formation. DksA/ppGpp binding also opens the DNA loading gate, which is not coupled to σ1.1 ejection and impedes open complex formation. These results provide a molecular basis for the exceptionally active rRNA transcription and its vulnerability to DksA/ppGpp.

scholarly journals Structural Basis for Linezolid Binding Site Rearrangement in the Staphylococcus aureus Ribosome

mBio ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Belousoff ◽  
Zohar Eyal ◽  
Mazdak Radjainia ◽  
Tofayel Ahmed ◽  
Rebecca S. Bamert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Structural Information ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Resistance Mutations ◽  
Antimicrobial Drugs ◽  
Linezolid Resistance ◽  
Drug Modification ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Mutations ◽  
Shed Light

ABSTRACT An unorthodox, surprising mechanism of resistance to the antibiotic linezolid was revealed by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) in the 70S ribosomes from a clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus. This high-resolution structural information demonstrated that a single amino acid deletion in ribosomal protein uL3 confers linezolid resistance despite being located 24 Å away from the linezolid binding pocket in the peptidyl-transferase center. The mutation induces a cascade of allosteric structural rearrangements of the rRNA that ultimately results in the alteration of the antibiotic binding site. IMPORTANCE The growing burden on human health caused by various antibiotic resistance mutations now includes prevalent Staphylococcus aureus resistance to last-line antimicrobial drugs such as linezolid and daptomycin. Structure-informed drug modification represents a frontier with respect to designing advanced clinical therapies, but success in this strategy requires rapid, facile means to shed light on the structural basis for drug resistance (D. Brown, Nat Rev Drug Discov 14:821–832, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd4675 ). Here, detailed structural information demonstrates that a common mechanism is at play in linezolid resistance and provides a step toward the redesign of oxazolidinone antibiotics, a strategy that could thwart known mechanisms of linezolid resistance. IMPORTANCE The growing burden on human health caused by various antibiotic resistance mutations now includes prevalent Staphylococcus aureus resistance to last-line antimicrobial drugs such as linezolid and daptomycin. Structure-informed drug modification represents a frontier with respect to designing advanced clinical therapies, but success in this strategy requires rapid, facile means to shed light on the structural basis for drug resistance (D. Brown, Nat Rev Drug Discov 14:821–832, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd4675 ). Here, detailed structural information demonstrates that a common mechanism is at play in linezolid resistance and provides a step toward the redesign of oxazolidinone antibiotics, a strategy that could thwart known mechanisms of linezolid resistance.

DNA-binding and transcriptional properties of human transcription factor TFIID after mild proteolysis

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 3415-3420
Author(s):  
M W Van Dyke ◽  
M Sawadogo
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Small Region ◽  
Protein Product ◽  
Differential Sensitivity ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Regulatory Processes ◽  
Promoter Recognition ◽  
Transcription Complexes

The existence of separable functions within the human class II general transcription factor TFIID was probed for differential sensitivity to mild proteolytic treatment. Independent of whether TFIID was bound to DNA or free in solution, partial digestion with either one of a variety of nonspecific endoproteases generated a protease-resistant protein product that retained specific DNA recognition, as revealed by DNase I footprinting. However, in contrast to native TFIID, which interacts with the adenovirus major late (ML) promoter over a very broad DNA region, partially proteolyzed TFIID interacted with only a small region of the ML promoter immediately surrounding the TATA sequence. This novel footprint was very similar to that observed with the TATA factor purified from yeast cells. Partially proteolyzed human TFIID could form stable complexes that were resistant to challenge by exogenous templates. It could also nucleate the assembly of transcription complexes on the ML promoter with an efficiency comparable to that of native TFIID, yielding similar levels of transcription initiation. These results suggest a model in which the human TFIID protein is composed of at least two different regions or polypeptides: a protease-resistant "core," which by itself is sufficient for promoter recognition and basal transcriptional levels, and a protease-sensitive "tail," which interacts with downstream promoter regions and may be involved in regulatory processes.

Independent 5' and 3'-end determination of multiple dihydrofolate reductase transcripts

1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 3732-3739
Author(s):  
J Y Yen ◽  
R E Kellems
Keyword(s):  
Dihydrofolate Reductase ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Overlapping Genes ◽  
Cytoplasmic Rna ◽  
Upstream Promoter ◽  
Upstream Promoter Region ◽  
Polyadenylation Sites

Multiple dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) mRNAs, differing substantially in abundance, are produced as a result of the utilization of multiple transcription initiation sites and multiple polyadenylation sites. We have shown that dhfr mRNAs initiating from an upstream promoter region utilize the same collection of six polyadenylation sites and generate multiple dhfr mRNAs at the same relative abundance as do the mRNAs initiating from the major transcription promoter region. These results indicate that the 5' and 3' ends of dhfr mRNAs are independently determined. We show that the relative abundance of steady-state dhfr mRNAs was the same in nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA fractions. This finding makes it unlikely that differences in mRNA stability account for differences in the relative abundance of the multiple dhfr mRNAs in the cytoplasm. Our analysis of the dhfr promoter region revealed the existence of stable cytoplasmic polyadenylated transcripts complementary to the first 300 nucleotides of the dhfr transcripts initiating from the upstream promoter region. Therefore, the dhfr locus hosts two divergent and partially overlapping genes which share the same promoter region.

scholarly journals Structural basis of transcription inhibition by fidaxomicin (lipiarmycin A3)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Lin ◽  
Kalyan Das ◽  
David Degen ◽  
Abhishek Mazumder ◽  
Diego Duchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient ◽  
Conformational State ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Cross Resistance ◽  
Antibacterial Drug

Fidaxomicin is an antibacterial drug in clinical use in treatment ofClostridium difficilediarrhea1–2. The active pharmaceutical ingredient of fidaxomicin, lipiarmycin A3 (Lpm)1–4, is a macrocyclic antibiotic with bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria and efflux-deficient strains of Gram-negative bacteria1–2, 5. Lpm functions by inhibiting bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP)6–8. Lpm exhibits no cross-resistance with the classic RNAP inhibitor rifampin (Rif)7, 9and inhibits transcription initiation at an earlier step than Rif8–11, suggesting that the binding site and mechanism of Lpm differ from those of Rif. Efforts spanning a decade to obtain a crystal structure of RNAP in complex with Lpm have been unsuccessful. Here, we report a cryo-EM12–13structure ofMycobacterium tuberculosisRNAP holoenzyme in complex with Lpm at 3.5 Å resolution. The structure shows that Lpm binds at the base of the RNAP “clamp,” interacting with the RNAP switch region and the RNAP RNA exit channel. The binding site on RNAP for Lpm does not overlap the binding sites for other RNAP inhibitors, accounting for the absence of cross-resistance of Lpm with other RNAP inhibitors. The structure exhibits an open conformation of the RNAP clamp, with the RNAP clamp swung outward by ~17° relative to its position in catalytically competent RNAP-promoter transcription initiation complexes, suggesting that Lpm traps an open-clamp conformational state. Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer14experiments confirm that Lpm traps an open-clamp conformational state and define effects of Lpm on clamp opening and closing dynamics. We propose that Lpm inhibits transcription initiation by trapping an open-clamp conformational state, thereby preventing simultaneous engagement of transcription initiation factor σ regions 2 and 4 with promoter -10 and -35 elements. The results provide information essential to understanding the mode of action of Lpm, account for structure-activity relationships of known Lpm analogs, and suggest modifications to Lpm that could yield new, improved Lpm analogs.

scholarly journals Structural basis of RNA polymerase III transcription repression by Maf1

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias K. Vorländer ◽  
Florence Baudin ◽  
Robyn D. Moir ◽  
René Wetzel ◽  
Wim J. H. Hagen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Metabolic Efficiency ◽  
Transcription Repression ◽  
Polymerase Iii ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Pol Iii

ABSTRACTMaf1 is a highly conserved central regulator of transcription by RNA polymerase III (Pol III), and Maf1 activity influences a wide range of phenotypes from metabolic efficiency to lifespan. Here, we present a 3.3 Å cryo-EM structure of yeast Maf1 bound to Pol III, which establishes how Maf1 achieves transcription repression. In the Maf1-bound state, Pol III elements that are involved in transcription initiation are sequestered, and the active site is sealed off due to ordering of the mobile C34 winged helix 2 domain. Specifically, the Maf1 binding site overlaps with the binding site of the Pol III transcription factor TFIIIB and DNA in the pre-initiation complex, rationalizing that binding of Maf1 and TFIIIB to Pol III are mutually exclusive. We validate our structure using variants of Maf1 with impaired transcription-inhibition activity. These results reveal the exact mechanism of Pol III inhibition by Maf1, and rationalize previous biochemical data.

Structural basis of transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Sainsbury ◽  
Carrie Bernecky ◽  
Patrick Cramer
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Structural Basis

scholarly journals Direct binding of TFEα opens DNA binding cleft of RNA polymerase

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung-Hoon Jun ◽  
Jaekyung Hyun ◽  
Jeong Seok Cha ◽  
Hoyoung Kim ◽  
Michael S. Bartlett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Transcription Bubble ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Direct Binding ◽  
Binding Cleft ◽  
Promoter Dna ◽  
Winged Helix Domain

AbstractOpening of the DNA binding cleft of cellular RNA polymerase (RNAP) is necessary for transcription initiation but the underlying molecular mechanism is not known. Here, we report on the cryo-electron microscopy structures of the RNAP, RNAP-TFEα binary, and RNAP-TFEα-promoter DNA ternary complexes from archaea, Thermococcus kodakarensis (Tko). The structures reveal that TFEα bridges the RNAP clamp and stalk domains to open the DNA binding cleft. Positioning of promoter DNA into the cleft closes it while maintaining the TFEα interactions with the RNAP mobile modules. The structures and photo-crosslinking results also suggest that the conserved aromatic residue in the extended winged-helix domain of TFEα interacts with promoter DNA to stabilize the transcription bubble. This study provides a structural basis for the functions of TFEα and elucidates the mechanism by which the DNA binding cleft is opened during transcription initiation in the stalk-containing RNAPs, including archaeal and eukaryotic RNAPs.

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