scholarly journals Structure of TFIIK for phosphorylation of CTD of RNA polymerase II

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (15) ◽  
pp. eabd4420
Author(s):  
Trevor van Eeuwen ◽  
Tao Li ◽  
Hee Jong Kim ◽  
Jose J. Gorbea Colón ◽  
Mitchell I. Parker ◽  
...  

During transcription initiation, the general transcription factor TFIIH marks RNA polymerase II by phosphorylating Ser5 of the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of Rpb1, which is followed by extensive modifications coupled to transcription elongation, mRNA processing, and histone dynamics. We have determined a 3.5-Å resolution cryo–electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the TFIIH kinase module (TFIIK in yeast), which is composed of Kin28, Ccl1, and Tfb3, yeast homologs of CDK7, cyclin H, and MAT1, respectively. The carboxyl-terminal region of Tfb3 was lying at the edge of catalytic cleft of Kin28, where a conserved Tfb3 helix served to stabilize the activation loop in its active conformation. By combining the structure of TFIIK with the previous cryo-EM structure of the preinitiation complex, we extend the previously proposed model of the CTD path to the active site of TFIIK.

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4427-4440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silviu L. Faitar ◽  
Seth A. Brodie ◽  
Alfred S. Ponticelli

ABSTRACT The general transcription factor IIB (TFIIB) is required for transcription of class II genes by RNA polymerase II. Previous studies demonstrated that mutations in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SUA7 gene, which encodes TFIIB, can alter transcription initiation patterns in vivo. To further delineate the functional domain and residues of TFIIB involved in transcription start site utilization, a genetic selection was used to isolate S. cerevisiae TFIIB mutants exhibiting downstream shifts in transcription initiation in vivo. Both dominant and recessive mutations conferring downstream shifts were identified at multiple positions within a highly conserved homology block in the N-terminal region of the protein. The TFIIB mutations conferred downstream shifts in transcription initiation at the ADH1 and CYC1 promoters, whereas no significant shifts were observed at the HIS3 promoter. Analysis of a series of ADH1-HIS3 hybrid promoters and variant ADH1 and HIS3 promoters containing insertions, deletions, or site-directed base substitutions revealed that the feature that renders a promoter sensitive to TFIIB mutations is the sequence in the immediate vicinity of the normal start sites. We discuss these results in light of possible models for the mechanism of start site utilization by S. cerevisiae RNA polymerase II and the role played by TFIIB.


2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 1709-1720 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Geetha Rani ◽  
Jeffrey A. Ranish ◽  
Steven Hahn

ABSTRACT Protein purification and depletion studies were used to determine the major stable forms of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) complexes found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae nuclear extracts. About 50% of Pol II is found associated with the general transcription factor TFIIF (Pol II-TFIIF), and about 20% of Pol II is associated with Mediator (Pol-Med). No Pol II-Med-TFIIF complex was observed. The activity of Pol II and the purified Pol II complexes in transcription initiation and reinitiation was investigated by supplementing extracts depleted of either total Pol II or total TFIIF with purified Pol II or the Pol II complexes. We found that all three forms of Pol II can complement Pol II-depleted extracts for transcription initiation, but Pol II-TFIIF has the highest specific activity. Similarly, Pol II-TFIIF has a much higher specific activity than TFIIF for complementation of TFIIF transcription activity. Although the Pol II-TFIIF and Pol II-Med complexes were stable when purified, we found these complexes were dynamic in extracts under transcription conditions, with a single polymerase capable of exchanging bound Mediator and TFIIF. Using a purified system to examine transcription reinitiation, we found that Pol II-TFIIF was active in promoting multiple rounds of transcription while Pol II-Med was nearly inactive. These results suggest that both the Pol II-Med and Pol II-TFIIF complexes can be recruited for transcription initiation but that only the Pol II-TFIIF complex is competent for transcription reinitiation.


Science ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 327 (5962) ◽  
pp. 206-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Liu ◽  
David A. Bushnell ◽  
Dong Wang ◽  
Guillermo Calero ◽  
Roger D. Kornberg

Previous x-ray crystal structures have given insight into the mechanism of transcription and the role of general transcription factors in the initiation of the process. A structure of an RNA polymerase II–general transcription factor TFIIB complex at 4.5 angstrom resolution revealed the amino-terminal region of TFIIB, including a loop termed the “B finger,” reaching into the active center of the polymerase where it may interact with both DNA and RNA, but this structure showed little of the carboxyl-terminal region. A new crystal structure of the same complex at 3.8 angstrom resolution obtained under different solution conditions is complementary with the previous one, revealing the carboxyl-terminal region of TFIIB, located above the polymerase active center cleft, but showing none of the B finger. In the new structure, the linker between the amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions can also be seen, snaking down from above the cleft toward the active center. The two structures, taken together with others previously obtained, dispel long-standing mysteries of the transcription initiation process.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (22) ◽  
pp. 8343-8351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald L. Pappas ◽  
Michael Hampsey

ABSTRACT SSU72 is an essential gene encoding a phylogenetically conserved protein of unknown function that interacts with the general transcription factor TFIIB. A recessive ssu72-1 allele was identified as a synthetic enhancer of a TFIIB (sua7-1) defect, resulting in a heat-sensitive (Ts−) phenotype and a dramatic downstream shift in transcription start site selection. Here we describe a new allele, ssu72-2, that confers a Ts− phenotype in a SUA7 wild-type background. In an effort to further define Ssu72, we isolated suppressors of thessu72-2 mutation. One suppressor is allelic toRPB2, the gene encoding the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II). Sequence analysis of the rpb2-100suppressor defined a cysteine replacement of the phylogenetically invariant arginine residue at position 512 (R512C), located within homology block D of Rpb2. The ssu72-2 andrpb2-100 mutations adversely affected noninduced gene expression, with no apparent effects on activated transcription in vivo. Although isolated as a suppressor of the ssu72-2Ts− defect, rpb2-100 enhanced the transcriptional defects associated with ssu72-2. The Ssu72 protein interacts directly with purified RNAP II in a coimmunoprecipitation assay, suggesting that the genetic interactions between ssu72-2 and rpb2-100 are a consequence of physical interactions. These results define Ssu72 as a highly conserved factor that physically and functionally interacts with the RNAP II core machinery during transcription initiation.


Genetics ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
pp. 1223-1233
Author(s):  
M L West ◽  
J L Corden

Abstract The carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of the RNA polymerase II largest subunit plays an essential but poorly understood role in transcription. The CTD is highly phosphorylated in vivo and this modification may be important in the transition from transcription initiation to elongation. We report here the development of a strategy for creating novel yeast CTDs. We have used this approach to show that the minimum viable CTD in yeast contains eight consensus (Tyr1Ser2Pro3Thr4Ser5Pro6Ser7) heptapeptide repeats. Substitution of alanine or glutamate for serines in positions two or five is lethal. In addition, changing tyrosine in position one to phenylalanine is lethal. The effects of mutations that alter potential phosphorylation sites are consistent with a requirement for CTD phosphorylation in vivo.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document