Breaking barriers to transcription elongation

SR proteins collaborate with 7SK and promoter-associated nascent RNA to release paused polymerase

RNAP II is frequently paused near gene promoters in mammals, and its transition to productive elongation requires active recruitment of P-TEFb, a cyclin-dependent kinase for RNAP II and other key transcription elongation factors. A fraction of P-TEFb is sequestered in an inhibitory complex containing the 7SK noncoding RNA, but it has been unclear how P-TEFb is switched from the 7SK complex to RNAP II during transcription activation. We report that SRSF2 (also known as SC35, an SR-splicing factor) is part of the 7SK complex assembled at gene promoters and plays a direct role in transcription pause release. We demonstrate RNA-dependent, coordinated release of SRSF2 and P-TEFb from the 7SK complex and transcription activation via SRSF2 binding to promoter-associated nascent RNA. These findings reveal an unanticipated SR protein function, a role for promoter-proximal nascent RNA in gene activation, and an analogous mechanism to HIV Tat/TAR for activating cellular genes.

Transcriptional properties of mammalian elongin A and its role in stress response

Elongin A was shown previously to be capable of potently activating the rate of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription elongation in vitro by suppressing transient pausing by the enzyme at many sites along DNA templates. The role of Elongin A in RNAPII transcription in mammalian cells, however, has not been clearly established. In this report, we investigate the function of Elongin A in RNAPII transcription. We present evidence that Elongin A associates with the IIO form of RNAPII at sites of newly transcribed RNA and is relocated to dotlike domains distinct from those containing RNAPII when cells are treated with the kinase inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-β-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole. Significantly, Elongin A is required for maximal induction of transcription of the stress response genes ATF3 and p21 in response to several stimuli. Evidence from structure-function studies argues that Elongin A transcription elongation activity, but not its ubiquitination activity, is most important for its function in induction of transcription of ATF3 and p21. Taken together, our data provide new insights into the function of Elongin A in RNAPII transcription and bring to light a previously unrecognized role for Elongin A in the regulation of stress response genes.

Direct protein interactions are responsible for Ikaros-GATA and Ikaros-Cdk9 cooperativeness in hematopoietic cells

Ikaros (Ik) is a critical regulator of hematopoietic gene expression. Here, we established that the Ik interactions with GATA transcription factors and cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (Cdk9), a component of the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), are required for transcriptional activation of Ik target genes. A detailed dissection of Ik-GATA and Ik-Cdk9 protein interactions indicated that the C-terminal zinc finger domain of Ik interacts directly with the C-terminal zinc fingers of GATA1, GATA2, and GATA3, whereas the N-terminal zinc finger domain of Ik is required for interaction with the kinase and T-loop domains of Cdk9. The relevance of these interactions was demonstrated in vivo in COS-7 and primary hematopoietic cells, in which Ik facilitated Cdk9 and GATA protein recruitment to gene promoters and transcriptional activation. Moreover, the oncogenic isoform Ik6 did not efficiently interact with Cdk9 or GATA proteins in vivo and perturbed Cdk9/P-TEFb recruitment to Ik target genes, thereby affecting transcription elongation. Finally, characterization of a novel nuclear Ik isoform revealed that Ik exon 6 is dispensable for interactions with Mi2 and GATA proteins but is essential for the Cdk9 interaction. Thus, Ik is central to the Ik-GATA-Cdk9 regulatory network, which is broadly utilized for gene regulation in hematopoietic cells.

Epigenetic control of cytomegalovirus latency and reactivation

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) gene expression is repressed in latency due to heterochromatinization of viral genomes. In murine CMV (MCMV) latently infected mice, viral genomes are bound to histones with heterochromatic modifications, to enzymes that mediate these modifications, and to adaptor proteins that may recruit co-repressor complexes. Kinetic analyses of repressor binding show that these repressors are recruited at the earliest time of infection, suggesting that latency may be the default state. Kidney transplantation leads to epigenetic reprogramming of latent viral chromatin and reactivation of immediate early gene expression. Inflammatory signaling pathways, which activate transcription factors that regulate the major immediate early promoter (MIEP), likely mediate the switch in viral chromatin.

HDAC inhibitors attenuate the development of hypersensitivity in models of neuropathic pain

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) interfere with the epigenetic process of histone acetylation and are known to have analgesic properties in models of chronic inflammatory pain. The aim of this study was to determine whether these compounds could also affect neuropathic pain. Different class I HDACIs were delivered intrathecally into rat spinal cord in models of traumatic nerve injury and antiretroviral drug–induced peripheral neuropathy (stavudine, d4T). Mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity was attenuated by 40% to 50% as a result of HDACI treatment, but only if started before any insult. The drugs globally increased histone acetylation in the spinal cord, but appeared to have no measurable effects in relevant dorsal root ganglia in this treatment paradigm, suggesting that any potential mechanism should be sought in the central nervous system. Microarray analysis of dorsal cord RNA revealed the signature of the specific compound used (MS-275) and suggested that its main effect was mediated through HDAC1. Taken together, these data support a role for histone acetylation in the emergence of neuropathic pain.

Enforcing the pause: transcription factor Sp3 limits productive elongation by RNA polymerase II

The transition of paused RNA polymerase II into productive elongation is a highly dynamic process that serves to fine-tune gene expression in response to changing cellular environments. We have recently reported that the transcription factor Sp3 inhibits the transition of paused RNA Pol II to productive elongation at the promoter of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(CIP1) and other Sp3-repressed genes. Our studies support the view that Sp3 has three modes of action: activation, SUMO-Sp3-mediated heterochromatin silencing and SUMO-independent inhibition of elongation. At the p21(CIP1) promoter, binding of the positive elongation factor P-TEFb kinase was not affected by Sp3. In contrast, Sp3 promoted binding of the protein phosphatase PP1 to the p21(CIP1) promoter, suggesting that Sp3-dependent regulation of the local balance between kinase and phosphatase activities may contribute to gene expression. Our findings show that the transition of paused RNA Pol II to productive elongation is an important step regulated by both promoter-specific activators and repressors to finely modulate mRNA expression levels.

CTR9, a component of PAF complex, controls elongation block at the c-Fos locus via signal-dependent regulation of chromatin-bound NELF dissociation

PAF complex (PAFc) is an RNA polymerase II associated factor that controls diverse steps of transcription. Although it is generally associated with actively transcribed genes, a repressive PAFc has also been suggested. Here, we report that PAFc regulates the transition from transcription initiation to transcription elongation. PAFc repressed IL-6-induced, but not TNF-α-induced, immediate early gene expression. PAFc constitutively associated with the 5'-coding region of the c-Fos locus, then transiently dissociated upon IL-6 stimulation. When CTR9, a component of PAFc, was depleted, higher levels of serine 5-phosphorylated or serine 2-phosphorylated forms of RNA Polymerase II were associated with the unstimulated c-Fos locus. We also observed an increased association of CDK9, a kinase component of the pTEF-b elongation factor, with the c-Fos locus in the CTR9-depleted condition. Furthermore, association of negative elongation factor, NELF, which is required to proceed to the elongation phase, was significantly reduced by CTR9 depletion, whereas elongation factor SPT5 recruitment was enhanced by CTR9 depletion. Finally, the chromatin association of CTR9 was specifically controlled by IL-6-induced kinase activity, because a JAK2 kinase inhibitor, AG-490, blocked its association. In conclusion, our data suggest that PAFc controls the recruitment of NELF and SPT5 to target loci in a signal- and locus-specific manner.

Development of temperature-sensitive mutants of the Drosophila melanogaster P-TEFb (Cyclin T/CDK9) heterodimer using yeast two-hybrid screening

P-TEFb complex, a heterodimer of the kinase CDK9 and Cyclin T, is a critical factor that stimulates the process of transcription elongation. Here, we explored a fast and large-scale screening method to induce a temperature-dependent conditional disruption of the CDK9/Cyclin T interaction and developed an assay to validate their mutant phenotypes in a biological context. First, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to screen Drosophila melanogaster Cyclin T mutants at a large scale for temperature or cold sensitive (TS or CS) CDK9 interaction phenotypes. The isolated P-TEFb TS mutants were then expressed in Drosophila cells and were investigated for their effects on Drosophila hsp70 transcriptional activity. Our results showed that these P-TEFb TS mutants had a reduced level of hsp70 transcription at restrictive temperatures. A model structure of the Cyclin T and CDK9 complex suggested that the key TS mutations were found within the α2- and α3-helices at the interface of the complex, which may disrupt the binding of Cyclin T to CDK9 directly or indirectly by affecting the conformation of Cyclin T. The yeast two-hybrid-based screening strategy described here for isolating TS or CS interaction phenotypes can be directly applicable to other complexes in higher organisms. The use of TS or CS mutants will enable a 'real-time and reversible perturbation' restricted to specific protein-protein interactions, providing a mechanistic insight into the biological process mediated by a target complex.

Transcriptional pausing controls a rapid antiviral innate immune response in Drosophila

Innate immune responses are characterized by precise gene expression whereby gene subsets are temporally induced to limit infection, although the mechanisms involved are incompletely understood. We show that antiviral immunity in Drosophila requires the transcriptional pausing pathway, including negative elongation factor (NELF) that pauses RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and positive elongation factor b (P-TEFb), which releases paused Pol II to produce full-length transcripts. We identify a set of genes that is rapidly transcribed upon arbovirus infection, including components of antiviral pathways (RNA silencing, autophagy, JAK/STAT, Toll, and Imd) and various Toll receptors. Many of these genes require P-TEFb for expression and exhibit pausing-associated chromatin features. Furthermore, transcriptional pausing is critical for antiviral immunity in insects because NELF and P-TEFb are required to restrict viral replication in adult flies and vector mosquito cells. Thus, transcriptional pausing primes virally induced genes to facilitate rapid gene induction and robust antiviral responses.

Precise maps of RNA polymerase reveal how promoters direct initiation and pausing

Transcription regulation occurs frequently through promoter-associated pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II). We developed a precision nuclear run-on and sequencing (PRO-seq) assay to map the genome-wide distribution of transcriptionally engaged Pol II at base pair resolution. Pol II accumulates immediately downstream of promoters, at intron-exon junctions that are efficiently used for splicing, and over 3' polyadenylation sites. Focused analyses of promoters reveal that pausing is not fixed relative to initiation sites, nor is it specified directly by the position of a particular core promoter element or the first nucleosome. Core promoter elements function beyond initiation, and when optimally positioned they act collectively to dictate the position and strength of pausing. This "complex interaction" model was tested with insertional mutagenesis of the Drosophila Hsp70 core promoter.

Transcription forms and remodels supercoiling domains unfolding large-scale chromatin structures

DNA supercoiling is an inherent consequence of twisting DNA and is critical for regulating gene expression and DNA replication. However, DNA supercoiling at a genomic scale in human cells is uncharacterized. To map supercoiling we used biotinylated-trimethylpsoralen as a DNA structure probe to show the genome is organized into supercoiling domains. Domains are formed and remodeled by RNA polymerase and topoisomerase activities and are flanked by GC-AT boundaries and CTCF binding sites. Under-wound domains are transcriptionally active, enriched in topoisomerase I, “open” chromatin fibers and DNaseI sites, but are depleted of topoisomerase II. Furthermore DNA supercoiling impacts on additional levels of chromatin compaction as under-wound domains are cytologically decondensed, topologically constrained, and decompacted by transcription of short RNAs. We suggest that supercoiling domains create a topological environment that facilitates gene activation providing an evolutionary purpose for clustering genes along chromosomes.

Transcription factor Sp3 represses expression of p21CIP¹ via inhibition of productive elongation by RNA polymerase II

Like that of many protein-coding genes, expression of the p21(CIP1) cell cycle inhibitor is regulated at the level of transcription elongation. While many transcriptional activators have been shown to stimulate elongation, the mechanisms by which promoter-specific repressors regulate pausing and elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNA PolII) are not well described. Here we report that the transcription factor Sp3 inhibits basal p21(CIP1) gene expression by promoter-bound RNA PolII. Knockdown of Sp3 led to increased p21(CIP1) mRNA levels and reduced occupancy of the negative elongation factor (NELF) at the p21(CIP1) promoter, although the level of binding of the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) kinase was not increased. Sp3 depletion correlated with increased H3K36me3 and H2Bub1, two histone modifications associated with transcription elongation. Further, Sp3 was shown to promote the binding of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) to the p21(CIP1) promoter, leading to reduced H3S10 phosphorylation, a finding consistent with Sp3-dependent regulation of the local balance between kinase and phosphatase activities. Analysis of other targets of Sp3-mediated repression suggests that, in addition to previously described SUMO modification-dependent chromatin-silencing mechanisms, inhibition of the transition of paused RNA PolII to productive elongation, described here for p21(CIP1), is a general mechanism by which transcription factor Sp3 fine-tunes gene expression.

Formation and fate of a complete 31-protein RNA polymerase II transcription preinitiation complex

Whereas individual RNA polymerase II (pol II)-general transcription factor (GTF) complexes are unstable, an assembly of pol II with six GTFs and promoter DNA could be isolated in abundant homogeneous form. The resulting complete pol II transcription preinitiation complex (PIC) contained equimolar amounts of all 31 protein components. An intermediate in assembly, consisting of four GTFs and promoter DNA, could be isolated and supplemented with the remaining components for formation of the PIC. Nuclease digestion and psoralen cross-linking mapped the PIC between positions -70 and -9, centered on the TATA box. Addition of ATP to the PIC resulted in quantitative conversion to an open complex, which retained all 31 proteins, contrary to expectation from previous studies. Addition of the remaining NTPs resulted in run-off transcription, with an efficiency that was promoter-dependent and was as great as 17.5% with the promoters tested.

Coupling between transcription and alternative splicing

The scenario of alternative splicing regulation is far more complex than the classical picture of a pre-mRNA being processed post-transcriptionally in more than one way. Introns are efficiently removed while transcripts are still being synthesized, supporting the idea of a co-transcriptional regulation of alternative splicing. Evidence of a functional coupling between splicing and transcription has recently emerged as it was observed that properties of one process may affect the outcome of the other. Co-transcriptionality is thought to improve splicing efficiency and kinetics by directing the nascent pre-mRNA into proper spliceosome assembly and favoring splicing factor recruitment. Two models have been proposed to explain the coupling of transcription and alternative splicing: in the recruitment model, promoters and pol II status affect the recruitment to the transcribing gene of splicing factors or bifunctional factors acting on both transcription and splicing; in the kinetic model, differences in the elongation rate of pol II would determine the timing in which splicing sites are presented, and thus the outcome of alternative splicing decisions. In the later model, chromatin structure has emerged as a key regulator. Although definitive evidence for transcriptionally coupled alternative splicing alterations in tumor development or cancer pathogenesis is still missing, many alternative splicing events altered in cancer might be subject to transcription-splicing coupling regulation.

Basic mechanisms in RNA polymerase I transcription of the ribosomal RNA genes

RNA Polymerase (Pol) I produces ribosomal (r)RNA, an essential component of the cellular protein synthetic machinery that drives cell growth, underlying many fundamental cellular processes. Extensive research into the mechanisms governing transcription by Pol I has revealed an intricate set of control mechanisms impinging upon rRNA production. Pol I-specific transcription factors guide Pol I to the rDNA promoter and contribute to multiple rounds of transcription initiation, promoter escape, elongation and termination. In addition, many accessory factors are now known to assist at each stage of this transcription cycle, some of which allow the integration of transcriptional activity with metabolic demands. The organisation and accessibility of rDNA chromatin also impinge upon Pol I output, and complex mechanisms ensure the appropriate maintenance of the epigenetic state of the nucleolar genome and its effective transcription by Pol I. The following review presents our current understanding of the components of the Pol I transcription machinery, their functions and regulation by associated factors, and the mechanisms operating to ensure the proper transcription of rDNA chromatin. The importance of such stringent control is demonstrated by the fact that deregulated Pol I transcription is a feature of cancer and other disorders characterised by abnormal translational capacity.

The RNA polymerase II transcriptional machinery and its epigenetic context

RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is the main engine that drives transcription of protein-encoding genes in eukaryotes. Despite its intrinsic subunit complexity, Pol II is subject to a host of factors that regulate the multistep transcription process. Indeed, the hallmark of the transcription cycle is the dynamic association of Pol II with initiation, elongation and other factors. In addition, Pol II transcription is regulated by a series of cofactors (coactivators and corepressors). Among these, the Mediator has emerged as one of the key regulatory factors for Pol II. Transcription by Pol II takes place in the context of chromatin, which is subject to numerous epigenetic modifications. This chapter mainly summarizes the various biochemical mechanisms that determine formation and function of a Pol II preinitiation complex (PIC) and those that affect its progress along the gene body (elongation). It further examines the various epigenetic modifications that the Pol II machinery encounters, especially in certain developmental contexts, and highlights newer evidence pointing to a likely close interplay between this machinery and factors responsible for the chromatin modifications.

HIV-1 Tat recruits transcription elongation factors dispersed along a flexible AFF4 scaffold

The HIV-1 Tat protein stimulates viral gene expression by recruiting human transcription elongation complexes containing P-TEFb, AFF4, ELL2, and ENL or AF9 to the viral promoter, but the molecular organization of these complexes remains unknown. To establish the overall architecture of the HIV-1 Tat elongation complex, we mapped the binding sites that mediate complex assembly in vitro and in vivo. The AFF4 protein emerges as the central scaffold that recruits other factors through direct interactions with short hydrophobic regions along its structurally disordered axis. Direct binding partners CycT1, ELL2, and ENL or AF9 act as bridging components that link this complex to two major elongation factors, P-TEFb and the PAF complex. The unique scaffolding properties of AFF4 allow dynamic and flexible assembly of multiple elongation factors and connect the components not only to each other but also to a larger network of transcriptional regulators.

Structure and function of the mammalian fibrillin gene family: implications for human connective tissue diseases

Fibrillins and latent transforming growth factor β binding proteins (LTBPs) are components of the extracellular matrix of connective tissue. While fibrillins are integral to the 10nm microfibrils, and often associated with elastin, all family members are likely to have an additional role in regulating the bioavailability of transforming growth factor β (TGBβ). Both fibrillins and LTBPs are large glycoproteins, containing a series of calcium binding epidermal growth factor domains as well as a number of copies of a unique 8 cysteine domain found only in this protein superfamily. There are three mammalian fibrillins and four LTBPs. Fibrillin monomers link head to tail in microfibrils which can then form two and three dimensional structures. In some tissues elastin is recruited to the fibrillin microfibrils to provide elasticity to the tissue. LTBPs are part of the TGBβ large latent complex which sequesters TGBβ in the extracellular matrix. Fibrillin-1 appears to bind to LTBPs to assist in this process and is thus involved in regulating the bioavailability of TGBβ. Mutation of fibrillin genes results in connective tissue phenotypes which reflect both the increased level of active TGBβ and the structural failure of the extracellular matrix due to the absence or abnormality of fibrillin protein. Fibrillinopathies include Marfan syndrome, familial ectopia lentis, familial thoracic aneurysm (mutations of FBN1) and congenital contractural arachnodactyly (mutation of FBN2). There are no diseases currently associated with mutation of FBN3 in humans, and this gene is no longer active in rodents. Expression patterns of fibrillin genes are consistent with their role in extracellular matrix structure of connective tissue. FBN1 expression is high in most cell types of mesenchymal origin, particularly bone. Human and mouse FBN2 expression is high in fetal cells and has more restricted expression in mesenchymal cell types postnatally. FBN3 is expressed early in development (embryonic and fetal tissues) in humans. The fibrillins are thus important in maintaining the structure and integrity of the extracellular matrix and, in combination with their sequence family members the LTBPs, also contribute to the regulation of the TGFβ family of major growth factors.

Transcription elongation and tissue-specific somatic CAG instability

The expansion of CAG/CTG repeats is responsible for many diseases, including Huntington's disease (HD) and myotonic dystrophy 1. CAG/CTG expansions are unstable in selective somatic tissues, which accelerates disease progression. The mechanisms underlying repeat instability are complex, and it remains unclear whether chromatin structure and/or transcription contribute to somatic CAG/CTG instability in vivo. To address these issues, we investigated the relationship between CAG instability, chromatin structure, and transcription at the HD locus using the R6/1 and R6/2 HD transgenic mouse lines. These mice express a similar transgene, albeit integrated at a different site, and recapitulate HD tissue-specific instability. We show that instability rates are increased in R6/2 tissues as compared to R6/1 matched-samples. High transgene expression levels and chromatin accessibility correlated with the increased CAG instability of R6/2 mice. Transgene mRNA and H3K4 trimethylation at the HD locus were increased, whereas H3K9 dimethylation was reduced in R6/2 tissues relative to R6/1 matched-tissues. However, the levels of transgene expression and these specific histone marks were similar in the striatum and cerebellum, two tissues showing very different CAG instability levels, irrespective of mouse line. Interestingly, the levels of elongating RNA Pol II at the HD locus, but not the initiating form of RNA Pol II, were tissue-specific and correlated with CAG instability levels. Similarly, H3K36 trimethylation, a mark associated with transcription elongation, was specifically increased at the HD locus in the striatum and not in the cerebellum. Together, our data support the view that transcription modulates somatic CAG instability in vivo. More specifically, our results suggest for the first time that transcription elongation is regulated in a tissue-dependent manner, contributing to tissue-selective CAG instability.

Mediator-regulated transcription through the +1 nucleosome

Many genes are regulated at the level of a Pol II that is recruited to a nucleosome-free region upstream of the +1 nucleosome. How the Mediator coactivator complex, which functions at multiple steps, affects transcription through the promoter proximal region, including this nucleosome, remains largely unaddressed. We have established a fully defined in vitro assay system to delineate mechanisms for Pol II transit across the +1 nucleosome. Our results reveal cooperative functions of multiple cofactors, particularly of Mediator and elongation factor SII, in transcribing into this nucleosome. This is achieved, in part, through an unusual activity of SII that alters the intrinsic catalytic properties of promoter-proximal Pol II and, in concert with the Mediator, leads to enhancement in transcription of nucleosomal DNA. Our data provide additional mechanistic bases for Mediator function after recruitment of Pol II and, potentially, for regulation of genes controlled via nucleosome-mediated promoter-proximal pausing.

Three-dimensional architecture of the IgH locus facilitates class switch recombination

Immunoglobulin (Ig) class switch recombination (CSR) is responsible for diversification of antibody effector function during an immune response. This region-specific recombination event, between repetitive switch (S) DNA elements, is unique to B lymphocytes and is induced by activationinduced deaminase (AID). CSR is critically dependent on transcription of noncoding RNAs across S regions. However, mechanistic insight regarding this process has remained unclear. New studies indicate that long-range intrachromosomal interactions among IgH transcriptional elements organize the formation of the S/S synaptosome, as a prerequisite for CSR. This three-dimensional chromatin architecture simultaneously brings promoters and enhancers into close proximity to facilitate transcription. Here, we recount how transcription across S DNA promotes accumulation of RNA polymerase II, leading to the introduction of activating chromatin modifications and hyperaccessible chromatin that is amenable to AID activity.

Transcriptional elongation factor elongin A regulates retinoic acid-induced gene expression during neuronal differentiation

Elongin A increases the rate of RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcript elongation by suppressing transient pausing by the enzyme. Elongin A also acts as a component of a cullin-RING ligase that can target stalled pol II for ubiquitylation and proteasome-dependent degradation. It is not known whether these activities of Elongin A are functionally interdependent in vivo. Here, we demonstrate that Elongin A-deficient (Elongin A(-/-)) embryos exhibit abnormalities in the formation of both cranial and spinal nerves and that Elongin A(-/-) embryonic stem cells (ESCs) show a markedly decreased capacity to differentiate into neurons. Moreover, we identify Elongin A mutations that selectively inactivate one or the other of the aforementioned activities and show that mutants that retain the elongation stimulatory, but not pol II ubiquitylation, activity of Elongin A rescue neuronal differentiation and support retinoic acid-induced upregulation of a subset of neurogenesis-related genes in Elongin A(-/-) ESCs.

Defining the status of RNA polymerase at promoters

Recent genome-wide studies in metazoans have shown that RNA polymerase II (Pol II) accumulates to high densities on many promoters at a rate-limited step in transcription. However, the status of this Pol II remains an area of debate. Here, we compare quantitative outputs of a global run-on sequencing assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing assays and demonstrate that the majority of the Pol II on Drosophila promoters is transcriptionally engaged; very little exists in a preinitiation or arrested complex. These promoter-proximal polymerases are inhibited from further elongation by detergent-sensitive factors, and knockdown of negative elongation factor, NELF, reduces their levels. These results not only solidify the notion that pausing occurs at most promoters, but demonstrate that it is the major rate-limiting step in early transcription at these promoters. Finally, the divergent elongation complexes seen at mammalian promoters are far less prevalent in Drosophila, and this specificity in orientation correlates with directional core promoter elements, which are abundant in Drosophila.

The new nucleoporin: regulator of transcriptional repression and beyond

Transcriptional regulation is a complex process that requires the integrated action of many multi-protein complexes. The way in which a living cell coordinates the action of these complexes in time and space is still poorly understood. Recent work has shown that nuclear pores, well known for their role in 3′ processing and export of transcripts, also participate in the control of transcriptional initiation. We have recently begun to explore how nuclear pores interface with the well-described machinery that regulates initiation. This work led to the discovery that specific nucleoporins are required for binding of the repressor protein Mig1 to its site in target promoters. Nuclear pores are therefore involved in repressing, as well as activating, transcription. Here we discuss in detail the main models explaining our result and consider what each implies about the roles that nuclear pores play in the regulation of gene expression.

Response to hyperosmotic stress

An appropriate response and adaptation to hyperosmolarity, i.e., an external osmolarity that is higher than the physiological range, can be a matter of life or death for all cells. It is especially important for free-living organisms such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When exposed to hyperosmotic stress, the yeast initiates a complex adaptive program that includes temporary arrest of cell-cycle progression, adjustment of transcription and translation patterns, and the synthesis and retention of the compatible osmolyte glycerol. These adaptive responses are mostly governed by the high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway, which is composed of membrane-associated osmosensors, an intracellular signaling pathway whose core is the Hog1 MAP kinase (MAPK) cascade, and cytoplasmic and nuclear effector functions. The entire pathway is conserved in diverse fungal species, while the Hog1 MAPK cascade is conserved even in higher eukaryotes including humans. This conservation is illustrated by the fact that the mammalian stress-responsive p38 MAPK can rescue the osmosensitivity of hog1Δ mutations in response to hyperosmotic challenge. As the HOG pathway is one of the best-understood eukaryotic signal transduction pathways, it is useful not only as a model for analysis of osmostress responses, but also as a model for mathematical analysis of signal transduction pathways. In this review, we have summarized the current understanding of both the upstream signaling mechanism and the downstream adaptive responses to hyperosmotic stress in yeast.

Transition step during assembly of HIV Tat:P-TEFb transcription complexes and transfer to TAR RNA

Transcription factors regulate eukaryotic RNA polymerase II (Pol II) activity by assembling and remodeling complexes at multiple steps in the transcription cycle. In HIV, we previously proposed a two-step model where the viral Tat protein first preassembles at the promoter with an inactive P-TEFb:7SK snRNP complex and later transfers P-TEFb to TAR on the nascent transcript, displacing the inhibitory snRNP and resulting in Pol II phosphorylation and stimulation of elongation. It is unknown how the Tat:P-TEFb complex transitions to TAR to activate the P-TEFb kinase. Here, we show that P-TEFb artificially recruited to the nascent transcript is not competent for transcription but rather remains inactive due to its assembly with the 7SK snRNP. Tat supplied in trans is able to displace the kinase inhibitor Hexim1 from the snRNP and activate P-TEFb, thereby uncoupling Tat requirements for kinase activation and TAR binding. By combining comprehensive mutagenesis of Tat with multiple cell-based reporter assays that probe the activity of Tat in different arrangements, we genetically defined a transition step in which preassembled Tat:P-TEFb complexes switch to TAR. We propose that a conserved network of residues in Tat has evolved to control this transition and thereby switch the host elongation machinery to viral transcription.

The Mediator complex and transcription elongation

BACKGROUND

Mediator is an evolutionarily conserved multisubunit RNA polymerase II (Pol II) coregulatory complex. Although Mediator was initially found to play a critical role in the regulation of the initiation of Pol II transcription, recent studies have brought to light an expanded role for Mediator at post-initiation stages of transcription.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

We provide a brief description of the structure of Mediator and its function in the regulation of Pol II transcription initiation, and we summarize recent findings implicating Mediator in the regulation of various stages of Pol II transcription elongation.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Emerging evidence is revealing new roles for Mediator in nearly all stages of Pol II transcription, including initiation, promoter escape, elongation, pre-mRNA processing, and termination.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Mediator plays a central role in the regulation of gene expression by impacting nearly all stages of mRNA synthesis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA polymerase II Transcript Elongation.

Structural basis of transcription elongation

For transcription elongation, all cellular RNA polymerases form a stable elongation complex (EC) with the DNA template and the RNA transcript. Since the millennium, a wealth of structural information and complementary functional studies provided a detailed three-dimensional picture of the EC and many of its functional states. Here we summarize these studies that elucidated EC structure and maintenance, nucleotide selection and addition, translocation, elongation inhibition, pausing and proofreading, backtracking, arrest and reactivation, processivity, DNA lesion-induced stalling, lesion bypass, and transcriptional mutagenesis. In the future, additional structural and functional studies of elongation factors that control the EC and their possible allosteric modes of action should result in a more complete understanding of the dynamic molecular mechanisms underlying transcription elongation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA polymerase II Transcript Elongation.

Sub1 associates with Spt5 and influences RNA polymerase II transcription elongation rate

The transcriptional coactivator Sub1 has been implicated in several steps of mRNA metabolism in yeast, such as the activation of transcription, termination, and 3'-end formation. In addition, Sub1 globally regulates RNA polymerase II phosphorylation, and most recently it has been shown that it is a functional component of the preinitiation complex. Here we present evidence that Sub1 plays a significant role in transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). We show that SUB1 genetically interacts with the gene encoding the elongation factor Spt5, that Sub1 influences Spt5 phosphorylation of the carboxy-terminal domain of RNAPII largest subunit by the kinase Bur1, and that both Sub1 and Spt5 copurify in the same complex, likely during early transcription elongation. Indeed, our data indicate that Sub1 influences Spt5-Rpb1 interaction. In addition, biochemical and molecular data show that Sub1 influences transcription elongation of constitutive and inducible genes and associates with coding regions in a transcription-dependent manner. Taken together, our results indicate that Sub1 associates with Spt5 and influences Spt5-Rpb1 complex levels and consequently transcription elongation rate.

Sangivamycin-like molecule 6 exhibits potent anti-multiple myeloma activity through inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase-9

Despite significant treatment advances over the past decade, multiple myeloma (MM) remains largely incurable. In this study we found that MM cells were remarkably sensitive to the death-inducing effects of a new class of sangivamycin-like molecules (SLM). A panel of structurally related SLMs selectively induced apoptosis in MM cells but not other tumor or nonmalignant cell lines at submicromolar concentrations. SLM6 was the most active compound in vivo, where it was well tolerated and significantly inhibited growth and induced apoptosis of MM tumors. We determined that the anti-MM activity of SLM6 was mediated by direct inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), which resulted in transcriptional repression of oncogenes that are known to drive MM progression (MAF, CCND1, MYC, and others). Furthermore, SLM6 showed superior in vivo anti-MM activity more than the CDK inhibitor flavopiridol, which is currently in clinical trials for MM. These findings show that SLM6 is a novel CDK9 inhibitor with promising preclinical activity as an anti-MM agent.

The Spt4-Spt5 complex: a multi-faceted regulator of transcription elongation

In all domains of life, elongating RNA polymerases require the assistance of accessory factors to maintain their processivity and regulate their rate. Among these elongation factors, the Spt5/NusG factors stand out. Members of this protein family appear to be the only transcription accessory proteins that are universally conserved across all domains of life. In archaea and eukaryotes, Spt5 associates with a second protein, Spt4. In addition to regulating elongation, the eukaryotic Spt4-Spt5 complex appears to couple chromatin modification states and RNA processing to transcription elongation. This review discusses the experimental bases for our current understanding of Spt4-Spt5 function and recent studies that are beginning to elucidate the structure of Spt4-Spt5/RNA polymerase complexes and mechanism of Spt4-Spt5 action. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA polymerase II Transcript Elongation.

Bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) bromodomain inhibition activate transcription via transient release of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) from 7SK small nuclear ribonucleoprotein

By phosphorylating elongation factors and the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II, the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) is the critical kinase for transcription elongation and co-transcriptional processing of eukaryotic genes. It exists in inactive small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (7SK snRNP) and active (free P-TEFb) complexes in cells. The P-TEFb equilibrium determines the state of cellular activation, proliferation, and differentiation. Free P-TEFb, which is required for growth, can be recruited to RNA polymerase II via transcription factors, BRD4, or the super elongation complex (SEC). UV light, various signaling cascades, transcriptional blockade, or compounds such as hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA), suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), and other histone deacetylase inhibitors lead to a rapid release of free P-TEFb, followed by its reassembly into the 7SK snRNP. As a consequence, transcription of HEXIM1, a critical 7SK snRNP subunit, and HIV is induced. In this study, we found that a bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) bromodomain inhibitor, JQ1, which inhibits BRD4 by blocking its association with chromatin, also leads to the rapid release of free P-TEFb from the 7SK snRNP. Indeed, JQ1 transiently increased levels of free P-TEFb and BRD4·P-TEFb and SEC·P-TEFb complexes in cells. As a consequence, the levels of HEXIM1 and HIV proteins rose. Importantly, the knockdown of ELL2, a subunit of the SEC, blocked the ability of JQ1 to increase HIV transcription. Finally, the effects of JQ1 and HMBA or SAHA on the P-TEFb equilibrium were cooperative. We conclude that HMBA, SAHA, and JQ1 affect transcription elongation by a similar and convergent mechanism.

A movie of RNA polymerase II transcription

We provide here a molecular movie that captures key aspects of RNA polymerase II initiation and elongation. To create the movie, we combined structural snapshots of the initiation-elongation transition and of elongation, including nucleotide addition, translocation, pausing, proofreading, backtracking, arrest, reactivation, and inhibition. The movie reveals open questions about the mechanism of transcription and provides a useful teaching tool.

RNA polymerase backtracking in gene regulation and genome instability

RNA polymerase is a ratchet machine that oscillates between productive and backtracked states at numerous DNA positions. Since its first description 15 years ago, backtracking--the reversible sliding of RNA polymerase along DNA and RNA--has been implicated in many critical processes in bacteria and eukaryotes, including the control of transcription elongation, pausing, termination, fidelity, and genome instability.

Promoter-associated RNAs and promoter-targeted RNAs

The world of RNAs is much more complex than previously thought, and has rapidly emerged as one of the most actively researched topics in the life sciences. Recently, two findings in this field were reported and given special attention: promoter-associated RNAs (paRNAs), a novel class of RNAs with numerous potential functions; and promoter-targeted RNA-induced transcriptional gene regulation, a new regulatory mechanism to control transcription. In this review, we summarize the studies in these two areas, and outline the current understanding with respect to the potential biological functions of paRNAs, and the molecular mechanisms of promoter-targeted RNA-induced transcriptional gene silencing and activation. Additionally, we seek to integrate these two areas, as paRNAs may have potential biological links with promoter-targeted RNA-induced transcriptional gene regulation. Finally, we will discuss the significance of identifying paRNAs and the possible use of promoter-targeted RNAs in gene regulation and therapy.

Oct-1 cooperates with the TATA binding initiation complex to control rapid transcription of human iNOS

Expression of the human inducible nitric oxide synthase (hiNOS) is generally undetectable in resting cells, but stimulation by a variety of signals including cytokines induces transcription in most cell types. The tight transcriptional regulation of the enzyme is a complex mechanism many aspects of which remain unknown. Here, we describe an octamer (Oct) element in hiNOS proximal promoter, located close to the TATA box. This site constitutively binds Oct-1 and its deletion abrogates cytokine-induced transcription, showing that it is indispensable though not sufficient for transcription. Increasing the distance between Oct and the TATA box by inserting inert DNA sequence inhibits transcription, and footprinting of this region shows no other protein binding in resting cells, suggesting an interaction between the two complexes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays detect the presence of Oct-1, RNA polymerase II and trimethyl K4 histone H3 on the proximal promoter in resting cells, confirming that the gene is primed for transcription before stimulation. RT-PCR of various fragments along the hiNOS gene shows that transcription is initiated in resting cells and this is inhibited by interference with Oct-1 binding to the proximal site of the promoter. We propose that, through interaction with the initiation complex, Oct-1 regulates hiNOS transcription by priming the gene for the rapid response required in an immune response.

Effects of myogenin on expression of late muscle genes through MyoD-dependent chromatin remodeling ability of myogenin

MyoD and myogenin (Myog) recognize sets of distinct but overlapping target genes and play different roles in skeletal muscle differentiation. MyoD is sufficient for near-full expression of early targets, while Myog can only partially enhance expression of MyoD-initiated late muscle genes. However, the way in which Myog enhances the expression of MyoD-initiated late muscle genes remains unclear. Here, we examine the effects of Myog on chromatin remodeling at late muscle gene promoters and their activation within chromatin environment. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that Myog selectively bound to the regulatory sequences of late muscle genes. Overexpression of Myog was found to overcome sodium butyrateinhibited chromatin at late muscle genes in differentiating C2C12 myoblasts, shifting the transcriptional activation of these genes to an earlier time period. Furthermore, overexpression of Myog led to increased hyperacetylation of core histone H4 in differentiating C2C12 myoblasts but not NIH3T3 fibroblasts, and hyperacetylated H4 was associated directly with the late muscle genes in differentiating C2C12, indicating that Myog can induce chromatin remodeling in the presence of MyoD. In addition, co-immunoprecipitation (CoIP) revealed that Myog was associated with the nuclear protein Brd4 in differentiating C2C12 myoblasts. Together, these results suggest that Myog enhances the expression of MyoD-initiated late muscle genes through MyoD-dependent ability of Myog to induce chromatin remodeling, in which Myog-Brd4 interaction may be involved.

AID targeting is dependent on RNA polymerase II pausing

Activation induced deaminase (AID) is globally targeted to immunoglobulin loci, preferentially focused to switch (S) regions and variable (V) regions, and prone to attack hotspot motifs. Nevertheless, AID deamination is not exclusive to Ig loci and the rules regulating AID targeting remain unclear. Transcription is critically required for class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation. Here, I consider the unique features associated with S region transcription leading to RNA polymerase II pausing, that in turn promote the introduction of activating chromatin remodeling, histone modifications and recruitment of AID to targeted S regions. These findings allow for a better understanding of the interplay between transcription, AID targeting and mistargeting to Ig and non-Ig loci.

Introduction to genome biology: features, processes, and structures

Genomic analyses increasingly make use of sophisticated statistical and computational approaches in investigations of genomic function and evolution. Scientists implementing and developing these approaches are often computational scientists, physicists, or mathematicians. This article aims to provide a compact overview of genome biology for these scientists. Thus, the article focuses on providing biological context to the genomic features, processes, and structures analysed by these approaches. Topics covered include (1) differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells; (2) the physical structure of genomes and chromatin; (3) different categories of genomic regions, including those serving as templates for RNA and protein synthesis, regulatory regions, repetitive regions, and "architectural" or "organisational" regions, such as centromeres and telomeres; (4) the cell cycle; (5) an overview of transcription, translation, and protein structure; and (6) a glossary of relevant terms.

Fcp1 dephosphorylation of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain is required for efficient transcription of heat shock genes

Fcp1 dephosphorylates the C-terminal domain of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) to recycle it into a form that can initiate a new round of transcription. Previously, we identified Drosophila Fcp1 as an important factor in optimal Hsp70 mRNA accumulation after heat shock. Here, we examine the role of Fcp1 in transcription of heat shock genes in vivo. We demonstrate that Fcp1 localizes to active sites of transcription including the induced Hsp70 gene. The reduced Hsp70 mRNA accumulation seen by RNA interference (RNAi) depletion of Fcp1 in S2 cells is a result of a loss of Pol II in the coding region of highly transcribed heat shock-induced genes: Hsp70, Hsp26, and Hsp83. Moreover, Fcp1 depletion dramatically increases phosphorylation of the non-chromatin-bound Pol II. Reexpression of either wild-type or catalytically dead versions of Fcp1 demonstrates that both the reduced Pol II levels on heat shock genes and the increased levels of phosphorylated free Pol II are dependent on the catalytic activity of Fcp1. Our results indicate that Fcp1 is required to maintain the pool of initiation-competent unphosphorylated Pol II, and this function is particularly important for the highly transcribed heat shock genes.

Effects of histone acetylation and CpG methylation on the structure of nucleosomes

Nucleosomes are the fundamental packing units of the eukaryotic genome. A nucleosome core particle comprises an octameric histone core wrapped around by ~147bp DNA. Histones and DNA are targets for covalent modifications mediated by various chromatin modification enzymes. These modifications play crucial roles in various gene regulation activities. A group of common hypotheses for the mechanisms of gene regulation involves changes in the structure and structural dynamics of chromatin induced by chromatin modifications. We employed single molecule fluorescence methods to test these hypotheses by monitoring the structure and structural dynamics of nucleosomes before and after histone acetylation and DNA methylation, two of the best-conserved chromatin modifications throughout eukaryotes. Our studies revealed that these modifications induce changes in the structure and structural dynamics of nucleosomes that may contribute directly to the formation of open or repressive chromatin conformation.

Evidence of the involvement of O-GlcNAc-modified human RNA polymerase II CTD in transcription in vitro and in vivo

The RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain (CTD), which serves as a scaffold to recruit machinery involved in transcription, is modified post-translationally. Although the O-GlcNAc modification of RNA polymerase II CTD was documented in 1993, its functional significance remained obscure. We show that O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) modified CTD serine residues 5 and 7. Drug inhibition of OGT and OGA (N-acetylglucosaminidase) blocked transcription during preinitiation complex assembly. Polymerase II and OGT co-immunoprecipitated, and OGT is a component of the preinitiation complex. OGT shRNA experiments showed that reduction of OGT causes a reduction in transcription and RNA polymerase II occupancy at several B-cell promoters. These data suggest that the cycling of O-GlcNAc on and off of polymerase II occurs during assembly of the preinitiation complex. Our results define unexpected roles for both the CTD and O-GlcNAc in the regulation of transcription initiation in higher eukaryotes.

Serine-7 but not serine-5 phosphorylation primes RNA polymerase II CTD for P-TEFb recognition

Phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) in hepta-repeats YSPTSPS regulates eukaryotic transcription. Whereas Ser5 is phosphorylated in the initiation phase, Ser2 phosphorylation marks the elongation state. Here we show that the positive transcription elongation factor P-TEFb is a Ser5 CTD kinase that is unable to create Ser2/Ser5 double phosphorylations, while it exhibits fourfold higher activity on a CTD substrate pre-phosphorylated at Ser7 compared with the consensus hepta-repeat or the YSPTSPK variant. Mass spectrometry reveals an equal number of phosphorylations to the number of hepta-repeats provided, yet the mechanism of phosphorylation is distributive despite the repetitive nature of the substrate. Inhibition of P-TEFb activity is mediated by two regions in Hexim1 that act synergistically on Cdk9 and Cyclin T1. HIV-1 Tat/TAR abrogates Hexim1 inhibition to stimulate transcription of viral genes but does not change the substrate specificity. Together, these results provide insight into the multifaceted pattern of CTD phosphorylation.

Proofreading of misincorporated nucleotides in DNA transcription

The accuracy of DNA transcription is crucial for the proper functioning of the cell. Although RNA polymerases demonstrate selectivity for correct nucleotides, additional active mechanisms of transcriptional error correction are required to achieve observed levels of fidelity. Recent experimental findings have shed light on a particular mechanism of transcriptional error correction involving: (i) diffusive translocation of the RNA polymerase along the DNA (backtracking) and (ii) irreversible RNA cleavage. This mechanism achieves preferential cleavage of misincorporated nucleotides by biasing the local rates of translocation. Here, we study how misincorporated nucleotides affect backtracking dynamics and how this effect determines the level of transcriptional fidelity. We consider backtracking as a diffusive process in a periodic, one-dimensional energy landscape, which at a coarse-grained level gives rise to a hopping process between neighbouring local minima. We propose a model for how misincorporated nucleotides deform this energy landscape and hence affect the hopping rates. In particular, we show that this model can be used to derive both the theoretical limit on the fidelity (i.e. the minimum fraction of misincorporated nucleotides) and the actual fidelity relative to this optimum, achieved for specific combinations of the cleavage and polymerization rates. Finally, we study how external factors influencing backtracking dynamics affect transcriptional fidelity. We show that biologically relevant loads, similar to those exerted by nucleosomes or other transcriptional barriers, increase error correction.

IKKα and alternative NF-κB regulate PGC-1β to promote oxidative muscle metabolism

Alternative NF-κB signaling modulates the activity of PGC-1β to promote oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle.

Although the physiological basis of canonical or classical IκB kinase β (IKKβ)–nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway is well established, how alternative NF-κB signaling functions beyond its role in lymphoid development remains unclear. In particular, alternative NF-κB signaling has been linked with cellular metabolism, but this relationship is poorly understood. In this study, we show that mice deleted for the alternative NF-κB components IKKα or RelB have reduced mitochondrial content and function. Conversely, expressing alternative, but not classical, NF-κB pathway components in skeletal muscle stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and specifies slow twitch fibers, suggesting that oxidative metabolism in muscle is selectively controlled by the alternative pathway. The alternative NF-κB pathway mediates this specificity by direct transcriptional activation of the mitochondrial regulator PPAR-γ coactivator 1β (PGC-1β) but not PGC-1α. Regulation of PGC-1β by IKKα/RelB also is mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) dependent, highlighting a cross talk between mTOR and NF-κB in muscle metabolism. Together, these data provide insight on PGC-1β regulation during skeletal myogenesis and reveal a unique function of alternative NF-κB signaling in promoting an oxidative metabolic phenotype.

Epigenetic control of inducible gene expression in the immune system

It has been well documented that active genes, and their promoters and enhancers have a different chromatin or epigenomic environment compared with unexpressed genes. In addition, the epigenome may influence not only which genes are expressed, but also which genes can be induced in response to activation or differentiation signals. Immune cells respond to activation signals by rapidly inducing the expression of specific gene sets, and therefore this is a good system in which to examine the role of the epigenome in gene activation and cell differentiation. Several studies have now found that many immediate-early inducible genes exist in a similar epigenomic environment to active genes even in the unstimulated state. Some studies suggest that subsets of these genes may even have RNA polymerase II at their promoters and induction may be controlled downstream of its recruitment. Other inducible genes, however, undergo changes to histone modifications, levels or variant composition upon activation. In this article, we discuss how the epigenome of immune cells regulates inducible gene expression and discuss the differences between the immediate responses to activation signals and the longer term changes observed during differentiation.