Faculty Opinions recommendation of In exponentially growing Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, rRNA synthesis is determined by the summed RNA polymerase I loading rate rather than by the number of active genes.

Author(s):  
Lucio Comai
2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 946-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan A. Claypool ◽  
Sarah L. French ◽  
Katsuki Johzuka ◽  
Kristilyn Eliason ◽  
Loan Vu ◽  
...  

Yeast cells entering into stationary phase decrease rRNA synthesis rate by decreasing both the number of active genes and the transcription rate of individual active genes. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we found that the association of RNA polymerase I with the promoter and the coding region of rDNA is decreased in stationary phase, but association of transcription factor UAF with the promoter is unchanged. Similar changes were also observed when growing cells were treated with rapamycin, which is known to inhibit the Tor signaling system. Rapamycin treatment also caused a decrease in the amount of Rrn3p-polymerase I complex, similar to stationary phase. Because recruitment of Pol I to the rDNA promoter is Rrn3p-dependent as shown in this work, these data suggest that the decrease in the transcription rate of individual active genes in stationary phase is achieved by the Tor signaling system acting at the Rrn3p-dependent polymerase recruitment step. Miller chromatin spreads of cells treated with rapamycin and cells in post-log phase confirm this conclusion and demonstrate that the Tor system does not participate in alteration of the number of active genes observed for cells entering into stationary phase.


1995 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 1103-1110 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Kadowaki ◽  
R Schneiter ◽  
M Hitomi ◽  
A M Tartakoff

Synthesis of mRNA and rRNA occur in the chromatin-rich nucleoplasm and the nucleolus, respectively. Nevertheless, we here report that a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene, MTR3, previously implicated in mRNA transport, codes for a novel essential 28-kDa nucleolar protein. Moreover, in mtr3-1 the accumulated polyA+ RNA actually colocalizes with nucleolar antigens, the nucleolus becomes somewhat disorganized, and rRNA synthesis and processing are inhibited. A strain with a ts conditional mutation in RNA polymerase I also shows nucleolar accumulation of polyA+ RNA, whereas strains with mutations in the nucleolar protein Nop1p do not. Thus, in several mutant backgrounds, when mRNA cannot be exported i concentrates in the nucleolus. mRNA may normally encounter nucleolar components before export and proteins such as Mtr3p may be critical for export of both mRNA and ribosomal subunits.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2441-2455
Author(s):  
M Oakes ◽  
Y Nogi ◽  
M W Clark ◽  
M Nomura

We have previously constructed mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in which the gene for the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is deleted. In these mutants, rRNA is synthesized by RNA polymerase II from a hybrid gene consisting of the 35S rRNA coding region fused to the GAL7 promoter on a plasmid. These strains thus grow in galactose but not glucose media. By immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies against the known nucleolar proteins SSB1 and fibrillarin, we found that the intact crescent-shaped nucleolar structure is absent in these mutants; instead, several granules (called mininucleolar bodies [MNBs]) that stained with these antibodies were seen in the nucleus. Conversion of the intact nucleolar structure to MNBs was also observed in Pol I temperature-sensitive mutants at nonpermissive temperatures. These MNBs may structurally resemble prenucleolar bodies observed in higher eukaryotic cells and may represent a constituent of the normal nucleolus. Furthermore, cells under certain conditions that inhibit rRNA synthesis did not cause conversion of the nucleolus to MNBs. Thus, the role of Pol I in the maintenance of the intact nucleolar structure might include a role as a structural element in addition to (or instead of) a functional role to produce rRNA transcripts. Our study also shows that the intact nucleolar structure is not absolutely required for rRNA processing, ribosome assembly, or cell growth and that MNBs are possibly functional in rRNA processing in the Pol I deletion mutants.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2441-2455 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Oakes ◽  
Y Nogi ◽  
M W Clark ◽  
M Nomura

We have previously constructed mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in which the gene for the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is deleted. In these mutants, rRNA is synthesized by RNA polymerase II from a hybrid gene consisting of the 35S rRNA coding region fused to the GAL7 promoter on a plasmid. These strains thus grow in galactose but not glucose media. By immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies against the known nucleolar proteins SSB1 and fibrillarin, we found that the intact crescent-shaped nucleolar structure is absent in these mutants; instead, several granules (called mininucleolar bodies [MNBs]) that stained with these antibodies were seen in the nucleus. Conversion of the intact nucleolar structure to MNBs was also observed in Pol I temperature-sensitive mutants at nonpermissive temperatures. These MNBs may structurally resemble prenucleolar bodies observed in higher eukaryotic cells and may represent a constituent of the normal nucleolus. Furthermore, cells under certain conditions that inhibit rRNA synthesis did not cause conversion of the nucleolus to MNBs. Thus, the role of Pol I in the maintenance of the intact nucleolar structure might include a role as a structural element in addition to (or instead of) a functional role to produce rRNA transcripts. Our study also shows that the intact nucleolar structure is not absolutely required for rRNA processing, ribosome assembly, or cell growth and that MNBs are possibly functional in rRNA processing in the Pol I deletion mutants.


1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 649-658
Author(s):  
W H Lang ◽  
R H Reeder

We have identified a terminator for transcription by RNA polymerase I in the genes coding for rRNA of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The terminator is located 108 bp downstream of the 3' end of the mature 25S rRNA and shares several characteristics with previously studied polymerase I terminators in the vertebrates. For example, the yeast terminator is orientation dependent, is inhibited by its own sequence, and forms RNA 3' ends 17 +/- 2 bp upstream of an essential protein binding site. The recognition sequence for binding of the previously cloned REB1 protein (Q. Ju, B. E. Morrow, and J. R. Warner, Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:5226-5234, 1990) is an essential component of the terminator. In addition, the efficiency of termination depends upon sequence context extending at least 12 bp upstream of the REB1 site.


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