Electron crystal structure of the transcription factor and DNA repair complex, core TFIIH

The Long Road to Understanding RNAPII Transcription Initiation and Related Syndromes

In eukaryotes, transcription of protein-coding genes requires the assembly at core promoters of a large preinitiation machinery containing RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and general transcription factors (GTFs). Transcription is potentiated by regulatory elements called enhancers, which are recognized by specific DNA-binding transcription factors that recruit cofactors and convey, following chromatin remodeling, the activating cues to the preinitiation complex. This review summarizes nearly five decades of work on transcription initiation by describing the sequential recruitment of diverse molecular players including the GTFs, the Mediator complex, and DNA repair factors that support RNAPII to enable RNA synthesis. The elucidation of the transcription initiation mechanism has greatly benefited from the study of altered transcription components associated with human diseases that could be considered transcription syndromes.

TFIIH: A multi-subunit complex at the cross-roads of transcription and DNA repair

Transcription factor IIH (TFIIH) is a multiprotein complex involved in both eukaryotic transcription and DNA repair, revealing a tight connection between these two processes. Composed of 10 subunits, it can be resolved into a 7-subunits core complex with the XPB translocase and the XPD helicase, and the 3-subunits kinase complex CAK, which also exists as a free complex with a distinct function. Initially identified as basal transcription factor, TFIIH also participates in transcription regulation and plays a key role in nucleotide excision repair (NER) for opening DNA at damaged sites, lesion verification and recruitment of additional repair factors. Our understanding of TFIIH function in eukaryotic cells has greatly benefited from studies of the genetic rare diseases xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), Cockayne syndrome (CS) and trichothiodystrophy (TTD), that are not only characterized by cancer and aging predispositions but also by neurological and developmental defects. Although much remains unknown about TFIIH function, significant progresses have been done regarding the structure of the complex, the functions of its catalytic subunits and the multiple roles of the regulatory core-TFIIH subunits. This review provides a non-exhaustive survey of key discoveries on the structure and function of this pivotal factor, which can be considered as a promising target for therapeutic strategies.

The Structures of Eukaryotic Transcription Pre-initiation Complexes and Their Functional Implications

Transcription is a highly regulated process that supplies living cells with coding and non-coding RNA molecules. Failure to properly regulate transcription is associated with human pathologies, including cancers. RNA polymerase II is the enzyme complex that synthesizes messenger RNAs that are then translated into proteins. In spite of its complexity, RNA polymerase requires a plethora of general transcription factors to be recruited to the transcription start site as part of a large transcription pre-initiation complex, and to help it gain access to the transcribed strand of the DNA. This chapter reviews the structure and function of these eukaryotic transcription pre-initiation complexes, with a particular emphasis on two of its constituents, the multisubunit complexes TFIID and TFIIH. We also compare the overall architecture of the RNA polymerase II pre-initiation complex with those of RNA polymerases I and III, involved in transcription of ribosomal RNA and non-coding RNAs such as tRNAs and snRNAs, and discuss the general, conserved features that are applicable to all eukaryotic RNA polymerase systems.

XPD-The Lynchpin of NER: Molecule, Gene, Polymorphisms, and Role in Colorectal Carcinogenesis

In mammals the bulky DNA adduct lesions known to result in deleterious phenotypes are acted upon and removed from the genomic DNA by nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. TFIIH multi-protein complex with its important helicase–Xeroderma Pigmentosum Protein (XPD) serves as the pivotal factor for opening up of the damaged lesion DNA site and carry out the repair process. The initial damage verification step of the TFIIH is in part dependent upon the helicase activity of XPD. Besides, XPD is also actively involved in the initiation steps of transcription and in the regulation of the cell cycle and apoptosis. In this review, we will be exploring the new insights in scientific research on the functioning of the NER pathway, the role of TFIIH as the central complex of NER, the pivotal helicase XPD as the lynchpin of NER and the effects of various single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of XPD on its functioning and their consequent role in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Structures of transcription pre-initiation complex with TFIIH and Mediator

For the initiation of transcription, RNA polymerase II (Pol II) assembles with general transcription factors on promoter DNA to form the pre-initiation complex (PIC). Here we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae PIC and PIC-core Mediator complex at nominal resolutions of 4.7 Å and 5.8 Å, respectively. The structures reveal transcription factor IIH (TFIIH), and suggest how the core and kinase TFIIH modules function in the opening of promoter DNA and the phosphorylation of Pol II, respectively. The TFIIH core subunit Ssl2 (a homologue of human XPB) is positioned on downstream DNA by the 'E-bridge' helix in TFIIE, consistent with TFIIE-stimulated DNA opening. The TFIIH kinase module subunit Tfb3 (MAT1 in human) anchors the kinase Kin28 (CDK7), which is mobile in the PIC but preferentially located between the Mediator hook and shoulder in the PIC-core Mediator complex. Open spaces between the Mediator head and middle modules may allow access of the kinase to its substrate, the C-terminal domain of Pol II.

Function of Conserved Topological Regions within the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Basal Transcription Factor TFIIH

TFIIH is a 10-subunit RNA polymerase II basal transcription factor with a dual role in DNA repair. TFIIH contains three enzymatic functions and over 30 conserved subdomains and topological regions. We systematically tested the function of these regions in three TFIIH core module subunits, i.e., Ssl1, Tfb4, and Tfb2, in the DNA translocase subunit Ssl2, and in the kinase module subunit Tfb3. Our results are consistent with previously predicted roles for the Tfb2 Hub, Ssl2 Lock, and Tfb3 Latch regions, with mutations in these elements typically having severe defects in TFIIH subunit association. We also found unexpected roles for other domains whose function had not previously been defined. First, the Ssl1-Tfb4 Ring domains are important for TFIIH assembly. Second, the Tfb2 Hub and HEAT domains have an unexpected role in association with Tfb3. Third, the Tfb3 Ring domain is important for association with many other TFIIH subunits. Fourth, a partial deletion of the Ssl1 N-terminal extension (NTE) domain inhibits TFIIH function without affecting subunit association. Finally, we used site-specific cross-linking to localize the Tfb3-binding surface on the Rad3 Arch domain. Our cross-linking results suggest that Tfb3 and Rad3 have an unusual interface, with Tfb3 binding on two opposite faces of the Arch.

Transferring an optimized TAP-toolbox for the isolation of protein complexes to a portfolio of rice tissues

Proteins are the cell's functional entities. Rather than operating independently, they interact with other proteins. Capturing in vivo protein complexes is therefore crucial to gain understanding of the function of a protein in a cellular context. Affinity purification coupled to mass spectrometry has proven to yield a wealth of information about protein complex constitutions for a broad range of organisms. For Oryza sativa, the technique has been initiated in callus and shoots, but has not been optimized ever since. We translated an optimized tandem affinity purification (TAP) approach from Arabidopsis thaliana toward Oryza sativa, and demonstrate its applicability in a variety of rice tissues. A list of non-specific and false positive interactors is presented, based on re-occurrence over more than 170 independent experiments, to filter bona fide interactors. We demonstrate the sensitivity of our approach by isolating the complexes for the rice ANAPHASE PROMOTING COMPLEX SUBUNIT 10 (APC10) and CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASE D (CDKD) proteins from the proliferation zone of the emerging fourth leaf. Next to APC10 and CDKD, we tested several additional baits in the different rice tissues and reproducibly retrieved at least one interactor for 81.4 % of the baits screened for in callus tissue and T1 seedlings. By transferring an optimized TAP tag combined with state-of-the-art mass spectrometry, our TAP protocol enables the discovery of interactors for low abundance proteins in rice and opens the possibility to capture complex dynamics by comparing tissues at different stages of a developing rice organ.

Role of XPD in cellular functions: To TFIIH and beyond

XPD, as part of the TFIIH complex, has classically been linked to the damage verification step of nucleotide excision repair (NER). However, recent data indicate that XPD, due to its iron-sulfur center interacts with the iron sulfur cluster assembly proteins, and may interact with other proteins in the cell to mediate a diverse set of biological functions including cell cycle regulation, mitosis, and mitochondrial function. In this perspective, after first reviewing the function and some of the key disease causing variants that affect XPD's interaction with TFIIH and the CDK-activating kinase complex (CAK), we investigate these intriguing cellular roles of XPD and highlight important unanswered questions that provide a fertile ground for further scientific exploration.

Architecture of the Human and Yeast General Transcription and DNA Repair Factor TFIIH

TFIIH is essential for both RNA polymerase II transcription and DNA repair, and mutations in TFIIH can result in human disease. Here, we determine the molecular architecture of human and yeast TFIIH by an integrative approach using chemical crosslinking/mass spectrometry (CXMS) data, biochemical analyses, and previously published electron microscopy maps. We identified four new conserved "topological regions" that function as hubs for TFIIH assembly and more than 35 conserved topological features within TFIIH, illuminating a network of interactions involved in TFIIH assembly and regulation of its activities. We show that one of these conserved regions, the p62/Tfb1 Anchor region, directly interacts with the DNA helicase subunit XPD/Rad3 in native TFIIH and is required for the integrity and function of TFIIH. We also reveal the structural basis for defects in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum and trichothiodystrophy, with mutations found at the interface between the p62 Anchor region and the XPD subunit.

Structural basis of transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II

Transcription of eukaryotic protein-coding genes commences with the assembly of a conserved initiation complex, which consists of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and the general transcription factors, at promoter DNA. After two decades of research, the structural basis of transcription initiation is emerging. Crystal structures of many components of the initiation complex have been resolved, and structural information on Pol II complexes with general transcription factors has recently been obtained. Although mechanistic details await elucidation, available data outline how Pol II cooperates with the general transcription factors to bind to and open promoter DNA, and how Pol II directs RNA synthesis and escapes from the promoter.

XPB: An unconventional SF2 DNA helicase

XPB is a 3'-5' DNA helicase belonging to the superfamily 2 (SF2) of helicases. XPB is an essential core subunit of the eukaryotic basal transcription factor complex TFIIH which plays a dual role in transcription and DNA repair: 1) to facilitate the melting of the promoter during the initiation of RNA polymerase II transcription; 2) to unwind double stranded DNA (dsDNA) around a DNA lesion during nucleotide excision repair (NER). NER is a highly versatile DNA repair process which is able to remove a broad spectrum of structurally unrelated DNA helix-distorting lesions. The importance of a fully functional XPB is clearly illustrated by the severe clinical consequences associated with inherited defects in XPB including UV-hypersensitive syndromes xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), Cockayne syndrome (CS), combined XP and CS (XP/CS), and trichothiodystrophy (TTD). Here we discuss the structure and function of XPB in NER as well as the impact of a disease mutation in XP11BE patients with XP/CS complex manifestations.

Architecture of an RNA polymerase II transcription pre-initiation complex

The protein density and arrangement of subunits of a complete, 32-protein, RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcription pre-initiation complex (PIC) were determined by means of cryogenic electron microscopy and a combination of chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry. The PIC showed a marked division in two parts, one containing all the general transcription factors (GTFs) and the other pol II. Promoter DNA was associated only with the GTFs, suspended above the pol II cleft and not in contact with pol II. This structural principle of the PIC underlies its conversion to a transcriptionally active state; the PIC is poised for the formation of a transcription bubble and descent of the DNA into the pol II cleft.

ARCH domain of XPD, an anchoring platform for CAK that conditions TFIIH DNA repair and transcription activities

The xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) helicase is a subunit of transcription/DNA repair factor, transcription factor II H (TFIIH) that catalyzes the unwinding of a damaged DNA duplex during nucleotide excision repair. Apart from two canonical helicase domains, XPD is composed of a 4Fe-S cluster domain involved in DNA damage recognition and a module of uncharacterized function termed the "ARCH domain." By investigating the consequences of a mutation found in a patient with trichothiodystrophy, we show that the ARCH domain is critical for the recruitment of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-activating kinase (CAK) complex. Indeed, this mutation not only affects the interaction with the MAT1 CAK subunit, thereby decreasing the in vitro basal transcription activity of TFIIH itself and impeding the efficient recruitment of the transcription machinery on the promoter of an activated gene, but also impairs the DNA unwinding activity of XPD and the nucleotide excision repair activity of TFIIH. We further demonstrate the role of CAK in downregulating the XPD helicase activity within TFIIH. Taken together, our results identify the ARCH domain of XPD as a platform for the recruitment of CAK and as a potential molecular switch that might control TFIIH composition and play a key role in the conversion of TFIIH from a factor active in transcription to a factor involved in DNA repair.

TFIIH: when transcription met DNA repair

The transcription initiation factor TFIIH is a remarkable protein complex that has a fundamental role in the transcription of protein-coding genes as well as during the DNA nucleotide excision repair pathway. The detailed understanding of how TFIIH functions to coordinate these two processes is also providing an explanation for the phenotypes observed in patients who bear mutations in some of the TFIIH subunits. In this way, studies of TFIIH have revealed tight molecular connections between transcription and DNA repair and have helped to define the concept of 'transcription diseases'.

Tfb6, a previously unidentified subunit of the general transcription factor TFIIH, facilitates dissociation of Ssl2 helicase after transcription initiation

General transcription factor TFIIH, previously described as a 10-subunit complex, is essential for transcription and DNA repair. An eleventh subunit now identified, termed Tfb6, exhibits 45% sequence similarity to human nuclear mRNA export factor 5. Tfb6 dissociates from TFIIH as a heterodimer with the Ssl2 subunit, a DNA helicase that drives promoter melting for the initiation of transcription. Tfb6 does not, however, dissociate Ssl2 from TFIIH in the context of a fully assembled transcription preinitiation complex. Our findings suggest a dynamic state of Ssl2, allowing its engagement in multiple cellular processes.

Emerging Views on the CTD Code

The C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) consists of conserved heptapeptide repeats that function as a binding platform for different protein complexes involved in transcription, RNA processing, export, and chromatin remodeling. The CTD repeats are subject to sequential waves of posttranslational modifications during specific stages of the transcription cycle. These patterned modifications have led to the postulation of the "CTD code" hypothesis, where stage-specific patterns define a spatiotemporal code that is recognized by the appropriate interacting partners. Here, we highlight the role of CTD modifications in directing transcription initiation, elongation, and termination. We examine the major readers, writers, and erasers of the CTD code and examine the relevance of describing patterns of posttranslational modifications as a "code." Finally, we discuss major questions regarding the function of the newly discovered CTD modifications and the fundamental insights into transcription regulation that will necessarily emerge upon addressing those challenges.

Subunit architecture of general transcription factor TFIIH

Structures of complete 10-subunit yeast TFIIH and of a nested set of subcomplexes, containing 5, 6, and 7 subunits, have been determined by electron microscopy (EM) and 3D reconstruction. Consistency among all the structures establishes the location of the "minimal core" subunits (Ssl1, Tfb1, Tfb2, Tfb4, and Tfb5), and additional densities can be specifically attributed to Rad3, Ssl2, and the TFIIK trimer. These results can be further interpreted by placement of previous X-ray structures into the additional densities to give a preliminary picture of the RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex. In this picture, the key catalytic components of TFIIH, the Ssl2 ATPase/helicase and the Kin28 protein kinase are in proximity to their targets, downstream promoter DNA and the RNA polymerase C-terminal domain.

A history of TFIIH: two decades of molecular biology on a pivotal transcription/repair factor

The TFIIH multiprotein complex is organized into a 7-subunit core associated with a 3-subunit CDK-activating kinase module (CAK). Three enzymatic subunits are present in TFIIH, two ATP-dependent DNA helicases: XPB and XPD, and the kinase Cdk7. Mutations in three of the subunits, XPB, XPD and TTDA, lead to three distinct genetic disorders: xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), Cockayne syndrome (CS) and trichothiodystrophy (TTD) predisposing patients not only to cancer and ageing but also to developmental and neurological defects. These heterogeneous phenotypes originate from the dual role of TFIIH in transcription and DNA repair. For twenty years, many molecular studies have been conducted with the aim to unveil the role of TFIIH in DNA repair and transcription as well as the origin of the phenotypes of patients. This review intends to give a non-exhaustive survey of the most prominent discoveries on the molecular functioning of TFIIH.

Requirement of TFIIH kinase subunit Mat1 for RNA Pol II C-terminal domain Ser5 phosphorylation, transcription and mRNA turnover

The relevance of serine 5 phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II carboxy-terminal domain during initiation has been difficult to determine in mammalian cells as no general in vivo Ser5 kinase has been identified. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of the TFIIH kinase subunit Mat1 in mouse fibroblasts leads to dramatically reduced Pol II Ser5 phosphorylation. This is associated with defective capping and reduced Ser2 phosphorylation, decreased Pol II progression into elongation and severely attenuated transcription detected through analysis of nascent mRNAs, establishing a general requirement for mammalian Mat1 in transcription. Surprisingly, the general defect in Pol II transcription in Mat1^−/− fibroblasts is not reflected in the majority of steady-state mRNAs. This indicates widespread stabilization of mRNAs and points to the existence of a regulatory mechanism to stabilize mRNAs following transcriptional attenuation, thus revealing a potential caveat in similar studies limited to analysis of steady-state mRNAs.

A TFIIH-associated mediator head is a basal factor of small nuclear spliced leader RNA gene transcription in early-diverged trypanosomes

Genome annotation suggested that early-diverged kinetoplastids possess a reduced set of basal transcription factors. More recent work, however, on the lethal parasite Trypanosoma brucei identified extremely divergent orthologs of TBP, TFIIA, TFIIB, and TFIIH which, together with the small nuclear RNA-activating protein complex, form a transcription preinitiation complex (PIC) at the spliced leader (SL) RNA gene (SLRNA) promoter. The SL RNA is a small nuclear RNA and a trans splicing substrate for the maturation of all pre-mRNAs which is metabolized continuously to sustain gene expression. Here, we identified and biochemically characterized a novel TFIIH-associated protein complex in T. brucei (Med-T) consisting of nine subunits whose amino acid sequences are conserved only among kinetoplastid organisms. Functional analyses in vivo and in vitro demonstrated that the complex is essential for cell viability, SLRNA transcription, and PIC integrity. Molecular structure analysis of purified Med-T and Med-T/TFIIH complexes by electron microscopy revealed that Med-T corresponds to the mediator head module of higher eukaryotes. These data therefore show that mediator is a basal factor for small nuclear SL RNA gene transcription in trypanosomes and that the basal transcription function of mediator head is a characteristic feature of eukaryotes which developed early in their evolution.

Structure determination of the minimal complex between Tfb5 and Tfb2, two subunits of the yeast transcription/DNA-repair factor TFIIH: a retrospective study

Tfb5 interacts with the Tfb2 subunit of the general transcription factor TFIIH to ensure efficient nucleotide-excision repair in eukaryotes. The crystal structure of the complex between Tfb5 and the C-terminal region of Tfb2 (Tfb2C) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has recently been reported. Here, the structure-determination process is described as a case study. Although crystals were obtained readily, it was not possible to determine experimental phases from a first crystal form (Tfb2(412-513)-Tfb5(2-72)) that diffracted to 2.6 A resolution. Shortening of the Tfb2C from its N-terminus was decisive and modified the crystal packing, leading to a second crystal form (Tfb2(435-513)-Tfb5(2-72)). These crystals diffracted to 1.7 A resolution with excellent mosaicity and allowed structure determination by conventional approaches using heavy atoms. The refined structure from the second crystal form was used to solve the structure of the first crystal form by molecular replacement. Comparison of the two structures revealed that the N-terminal region of Tfb2C and (to a lesser extent) the C-terminal region of Tfb5 contributed to the crystal packing. A detailed analysis illustrates how variation in domain boundaries influences crystal packing and quality.

Interacting partners of the Tfb2 subunit from yeast TFIIH

TFIIH is an evolutionary conserved eukaryotic multi-protein complex composed of ten subunits. It is involved in transcription, cell cycle regulation, RNA splicing and the nucleotide excision DNA repair pathway (NER). Depending on the process in which it is functioning, the composition of TFIIH varies and activities of its subunits are differentially regulated. Here we focused on interplay between the Ssl2, Tfb2 and Tfb5 subunits of TFIIH from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that Tfb2 bridges the Ssl2 helicase and the NER-specific Tfb5 subunit. Moreover, the Tfb5-interacting domain of Tfb2 also binds nucleic acids (NA), although the addition of Tfb5 triggers dissociation of NA from Tfb2. In yeast cells, deletion of TFB5 is more detrimental to NER than loss of the Tfb5/NA-interacting domain of Tfb2, while combining these mutations resulted in suppression of the UV sensitivity of tfb5Delta. The implications of our findings in regards to TFIIH function and group A trichothiodystrophy, an inherited disease associated with mutations in the human TFB5 gene, are discussed.

Transcriptionally active TFIIH of the early-diverged eukaryote Trypanosoma brucei harbors two novel core subunits but not a cyclin-activating kinase complex

Trypanosoma brucei is a member of the early-diverged, protistan family Trypanosomatidae and a lethal parasite causing African Sleeping Sickness in humans. Recent studies revealed that T. brucei harbors extremely divergent orthologues of the general transcription factors TBP, TFIIA, TFIIB and TFIIH and showed that these factors are essential for initiating RNA polymerase II-mediated synthesis of spliced leader (SL) RNA, a trans splicing substrate and key molecule in trypanosome mRNA maturation. In yeast and metazoans, TFIIH is composed of a core of seven conserved subunits and the ternary cyclin-activating kinase (CAK) complex. Conversely, only four TFIIH subunits have been identified in T. brucei. Here, we characterize the first protistan TFIIH which was purified in its transcriptionally active form from T. brucei extracts. The complex consisted of all seven core subunits but lacked the CAK sub-complex; instead it contained two trypanosomatid-specific subunits, which were indispensable for parasite viability and SL RNA gene transcription. These findings were corroborated by comparing the molecular structures of trypanosome and human TFIIH. While the ring-shaped core domain was surprisingly congruent between the two structures, trypanosome TFIIH lacked the knob-like CAK moiety and exhibited extra densities on either side of the ring, presumably due to the specific subunits.

Mediator-dependent recruitment of TFIIH modules in preinitiation complex

In vitro, without Mediator, the association of general transcription factors (GTF) and RNA polymerase II (Pol II) in preinitiation complexes (PIC) occurs in an orderly fashion. In this work, we explore the in vivo function of Mediator in GTF recruitment to PIC. A direct interaction between Med11 Mediator head subunit and Rad3 TFIIH subunit was identified. We explored the significance of this interaction and those of Med11 with head module subunits Med17 and Med22 and found that impairing these interactions could differentially affect the recruitment of TFIIH, TFIIE, and Pol II in the PIC. A med11 mutation that altered promoter occupancy by the TFIIK kinase module of TFIIH genome-wide also reduced Pol II CTD serine 5 phosphorylation. We conclude that the Mediator head module plays a critical role in TFIIH and TFIIE recruitment to the PIC. We identify steps in PIC formation that suggest a branched assembly pathway.

Versatile protection from mutagenic DNA lesions conferred by bipartite recognition in nucleotide excision repair

Nucleotide excision repair is a cut-and-patch pathway that eliminates potentially mutagenic DNA lesions caused by ultraviolet light, electrophilic chemicals, oxygen radicals and many other genetic insults. Unlike antigen recognition by the immune system, which employs billions of immunoglobulins and T-cell receptors, the nucleotide excision repair complex relies on just a few generic factors to detect an extremely wide range of DNA adducts. This molecular versatility is achieved by a bipartite strategy initiated by the detection of abnormal strand fluctuations, followed by the localization of injured residues through an enzymatic scanning process coupled to DNA unwinding. The early recognition subunits are able to probe the thermodynamic properties of nucleic acid substrates but avoid direct contacts with chemically altered bases. Only downstream subunits of the bipartite recognition process interact more closely with damaged bases to delineate the sites of DNA incision. Thus, consecutive factors expand the spectrum of deleterious genetic lesions conveyed to DNA repair by detecting distinct molecular features of target substrates.

The iron-containing domain is essential in Rad3 helicases for coupling of ATP hydrolysis to DNA translocation and for targeting the helicase to the single-stranded DNA-double-stranded DNA junction

Helicases often achieve functional specificity through utilization of unique structural features incorporated into an otherwise conserved core. The archaeal Rad3 (xeroderma pigmentosum group D protein (XPD)) helicase is a prototypical member of the Rad3 family, distinct from other related (superfamily II) SF2 enzymes because of a unique insertion containing an iron-sulfur (FeS) cluster. This insertion may represent an auxiliary domain responsible for modifying helicase activity or for conferring specificity for selected DNA repair intermediates. The importance of the FeS cluster for the fine-tuning of Rad3-DNA interactions is illustrated by several clinically relevant point mutations in the FeS domain of human Bach1 (FancJ) and XPD helicases that result in distinct disease phenotypes. Here we analyzed the substrate specificity of the Rad3 (XPD) helicase from Ferroplasma acidarmanus (FacRad3) and probed the importance of the FeS cluster for Rad3-DNA interactions. We found that the FeS cluster stabilizes secondary structure of the auxiliary domain important for coupling of single-stranded (ss) DNA-dependent ATP hydrolysis to ssDNA translocation. Additionally, we observed specific quenching of the Cy5 fluorescent dye when the FeS cluster of a bound helicase is positioned in close proximity to a Cy5 fluorophore incorporated into the DNA molecule. Taking advantage of this Cy5 quenching, we developed an equilibrium assay for analysis of the Rad3 interactions with various DNA substrates. We determined that the FeS cluster-containing domain recognizes the ssDNA-double-stranded DNA junction and positions the helicase in an orientation consistent with duplex unwinding. Although it interacts specifically with the junction, the enzyme binds tightly to ssDNA, and the single-stranded regions of the substrate are the major contributors to the energetics of FacRad3-substrate interactions.

Stripped-down DNA repair in a highly reduced parasite

Background

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a member of a distinctive group of single-celled parasitic eukaryotes called microsporidia, which are closely related to fungi. Some of these organisms, including E. cuniculi, also have uniquely small genomes that are within the prokaryotic range. Thus, E. cuniculi has undergone a massive genome reduction which has resulted in a loss of genes from diverse biological pathways, including those that act in DNA repair.

DNA repair is essential to any living cell. A loss of these mechanisms invariably results in accumulation of mutations and/or cell death. Six major pathways of DNA repair in eukaryotes include: non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), homologous recombination repair (HRR), mismatch repair (MMR), nucleotide excision repair (NER), base excision repair (BER) and methyltransferase repair. DNA polymerases are also critical players in DNA repair processes.

Given the close relationship between microsporidia and fungi, the repair mechanisms present in E. cuniculi were compared to those of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to ascertain how the process of genome reduction has affected the DNA repair pathways.

Results

E. cuniculi lacks 16 (plus another 6 potential absences) of the 56 DNA repair genes sought via BLASTP and PSI-BLAST searches. Six of 14 DNA polymerases or polymerase subunits are also absent in E. cuniculi. All of these genes are relatively well conserved within eukaryotes. The absence of genes is not distributed equally among the different repair pathways; some pathways lack only one protein, while there is a striking absence of many proteins that are components of both double strand break repair pathways. All specialized repair polymerases are also absent.

Conclusion

Given the large number of DNA repair genes that are absent from the double strand break repair pathways, E. cuniculi is a prime candidate for the study of double strand break repair with minimal machinery. Strikingly, all of the double strand break repair genes that have been retained by E. cuniculi participate in other biological pathways.

Tfb5 interacts with Tfb2 and facilitates nucleotide excision repair in yeast

TFIIH is indispensable for nucleotide excision repair (NER) and RNA polymerase II transcription. Its tenth subunit was recently discovered in yeast as Tfb5. Unlike other TFIIH subunits, Tfb5 is not essential for cell survival. We have analyzed the role of Tfb5 in NER. NER was deficient in the tfb5 deletion mutant cell extracts, and was specifically complemented by purified Tfb5 protein. In contrast to the extreme ultraviolet (UV) sensitivity of rad14 mutant cells that lack any NER activity, tfb5 deletion mutant cells were moderately sensitive to UV radiation, resembling that of the tfb1-101 mutant cells in which TFIIH activity is compromised but not eliminated. Thus, Tfb5 protein directly participates in NER and is an accessory NER protein that stimulates the repair to the proficient level. Lacking a DNA binding activity, Tfb5 was found to interact with the core TFIIH subunit Tfb2, but not with other NER proteins. The Tfb5–Tfb2 interaction was correlated with the cellular NER function of Tfb5, supporting the functional importance of this interaction. Our results led to a model in which Tfb5 acts as an architectural stabilizer conferring structural rigidity to the core TFIIH such that the complex is maintained in its functional architecture.

Developing master keys to brain pathology, cancer and aging from the structural biology of proteins controlling reactive oxygen species and DNA repair

This review is focused on proteins with key roles in pathways controlling either reactive oxygen species or DNA damage responses, both of which are essential for preserving the nervous system. An imbalance of reactive oxygen species or inappropriate DNA damage response likely causes mutational or cytotoxic outcomes, which may lead to cancer and/or aging phenotypes. Moreover, individuals with hereditary disorders in proteins of these cellular pathways have significant neurological abnormalities. Mutations in a superoxide dismutase, which removes oxygen free radicals, may cause the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Additionally, DNA repair disorders that affect the brain to various extents include ataxia-telangiectasia-like disorder, Cockayne syndrome or Werner syndrome. Here, we highlight recent advances gained through structural biochemistry studies on enzymes linked to these disorders and other related enzymes acting within the same cellular pathways. We describe the current understanding of how these vital proteins coordinate chemical steps and integrate cellular signaling and response events. Significantly, these structural studies may provide a set of master keys to developing a unified understanding of the survival mechanisms utilized after insults by reactive oxygen species and genotoxic agents, and also provide a basis for developing an informed intervention in brain tumor and neurodegenerative disease progression.

Structure of the Tfb1/p53 complex: Insights into the interaction between the p62/Tfb1 subunit of TFIIH and the activation domain of p53

The interaction between the amino-terminal transactivation domain (TAD) of p53 and TFIIH is directly correlated with the ability of p53 to activate both transcription initiation and elongation. We have identified a region within the p53 TAD that specifically interacts with the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of the p62 and Tfb1 subunits of human and yeast TFIIH. We have solved the 3D structure of a complex between the p53 TAD and the PH domain of Tfb1 by NMR spectroscopy. Our structure reveals that p53 forms a nine residue amphipathic alpha helix (residues 47-55) upon binding to Tfb1. In addition, we demonstrate that diphosphorylation of p53 at Ser46 and Thr55 leads to a significant enhancement in p53 binding to p62 and Tfb1. These results indicate that a phosphorylation cascade involving Ser46 and Thr55 of p53 could play an important role in the regulation of select p53 target genes.

RNA recognition and cleavage by the SARS coronavirus endoribonuclease

The emerging disease SARS is caused by a novel coronavirus that encodes several unusual RNA-processing enzymes, including non-structural protein 15 (Nsp15), a hexameric endoribonuclease that preferentially cleaves at uridine residues.1., 2., 3. How Nsp15 recognizes and cleaves RNA is not well understood and is the subject of this study. Based on the analysis of RNA products separated by denaturing gel electrophoresis, Nsp15 has been reported to cleave both 5′ and 3′ of the uridine.1., 2. We used several RNAs, including some with nucleotide analogs, and mass spectrometry to determine that Nsp15 cleaves only 3′ of the recognition uridylate, with some cleavage 3′ of cytidylate. A highly conserved RNA structure in the 3′ non-translated region of the SARS virus was cleaved preferentially at one of the unpaired uridylate bases, demonstrating that both RNA structure and base-pairing can affect cleavage by Nsp15. Several modified RNAs that are not cleaved by Nsp15 can bind Nsp15 as competitive inhibitors. The RNA binding affinity of Nsp15 increased with the content of uridylate in substrate RNA and the co-factor Mn²⁺. The hexameric form of Nsp15 was found to bind RNA in solution. A two-dimensional crystal of Nsp15 in complex with RNA showed that at least two RNA molecules could be bound per hexamer. Furthermore, an 8.3 Å structure of Nsp15 was developed using cyroelectron microscopy, allowing us to generate a model of the Nsp15-RNA complex.

Arabidopsis homologue of human transcription factor IIH/nucleotide excision repair factor p44 can function in transcription and DNA repair and interacts with AtXPD

Eukaryotic general transcription factor (TF) IIH is composed of 10 proteins, seven of which are also required for nucleotide excision repair (NER) of UV radiation-induced DNA damage in human cells and yeast. Plant homologues of the human TFIIH subunits XPB and XPD that function in NER have been isolated but none has been shown to operate in transcription. Here we address the capabilities of Arabidopsis thaliana AtGTF2H2 and AtXPD, homologues of the essential interacting human/yeast TFIIH components p44/Ssl1 and XPD/Rad3, respectively. Expression of AtGTF2H2 or AtXPD cDNAs in yeast ssl1 or rad3 mutants temperature-sensitive for growth due to thermolabile transcription of mRNA restored growth and so transcription at the non-permissive temperature. AtGTF2H2 also complemented the NER deficiency of the corresponding yeast mutant, as measured by full recovery of UV resistance, whereas AtXPD did not despite being necessary for NER in Arabidopsis. UV treatment did not upregulate transcription of AtGTF2H2 or AtXPD in Arabidopsis. Suppression of a yeast translation initiation defect by the ssl1-1 mutation was prevented by expression of AtGTF2H2. Deletion of SSL1 in a yeast strain expressing AtGTF2H2 did not affect growth or confer UV sensitivity, demonstrating that AtGTF2H2 can perform all essential transcription functions and UV damage repair duties of Ssl1 in its absence. Furthermore, AtGTF2H2 interacted with AtXPD and yeast Rad3, and AtXPD also interacted with yeast Ssl1 in two-hybrid assays. Our results indicate that AtGTF2H2 can act in transcription and NER, and suggest that it participates in both processes in Arabidopsis as part of TFIIH.

Prediction of the general transcription factors associated with RNA polymerase II in Plasmodium falciparum: conserved features and differences relative to other eukaryotes

BACKGROUND

To date, only a few transcription factors have been identified in the genome of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria. Moreover, no detailed molecular analysis of its basal transcription machinery, which is otherwise well-conserved in the crown group of eukaryotes, has yet been reported. In this study, we have used a combination of sensitive sequence analysis methods to predict the existence of several parasite encoded general transcription factors associated with RNA polymerase II.

RESULTS

Several orthologs of general transcription factors associated with RNA polymerase II can be predicted among the hypothetical proteins of the P. falciparum genome using the two-dimensional Hydrophobic Cluster Analysis (HCA) together with profile-based search methods (PSI-BLAST). These predicted orthologous genes encoding putative transcription factors include the large subunit of TFIIA and two candidates for its small subunit, the TFIIE beta-subunit, which would associate with the previously known TFIIE alpha-subunit, the TFIIF beta-subunit, as well as the p62/TFB1 subunit of the TFIIH core. Within TFIID, the putative orthologs of TAF1, TAF2, TAF7 and TAF10 were also predicted. However, no candidates for TAFs with classical histone fold domain (HFD) were found, suggesting an unusual architecture of TFIID complex of RNA polymerase II in the parasite.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, these results suggest that more general transcription factors may be present in the P. falciparum proteome than initially thought. The prediction of these orthologous general transcription factors opens the way for further studies dealing with transcriptional regulation in P. falciparum. These alternative and sensitive sequence analysis methods can help to identify candidates for other transcriptional regulatory factors in P. falciparum. They will also facilitate the prediction of biological functions for several orphan proteins from other apicomplexan parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum and Eimeria.

Solution Structure of the C-terminal Domain of TFIIH P44 Subunit Reveals a Novel Type of C4C4 Ring Domain Involved in Protein-Protein Interactions

The human general transcription factor TFIIH is involved in both transcription and DNA nucleotide excision repair. Among the 10 subunits of the complex, p44 subunit plays a crucial role in both mechanisms. Its N-terminal domain interacts with the XPD helicase, whereas its C-terminal domain is involved specifically in the promoter escape activity. By mutating an exposed and non-conserved cysteine residue into a serine, we produced a soluble mutant of p44-(321-395) suitable for solution structure determination. The domain adopts a C4C4 RING domain structure with sequential organization of beta-strands that is related to canonical RING domains by a circular permutation of the beta-sheet elements. Analysis of the molecular surface and mutagenesis experiments suggests that the binding of p44-(321-395) to TFIIH p34 subunit is not mediated by electrostatic interactions and, thus, differs from previously reported interaction mechanisms involving RING domains.

Ubiquitin Ligase Activity of TFIIH and the Transcriptional Response to DNA Damage

Core transcription factor (TF) IIH purified from yeast possesses an E3 ubiquitin (Ub) ligase activity, which resides, at least in part, in a RING finger (RNF) domain of the Ssl1 subunit. Yeast strains mutated in the Ssl1 RNF domain are sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light and to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). This increased sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents does not reflect a deficiency in nucleotide excision repair. Rather, it correlates with reduced transcriptional induction of genes involved in DNA repair, suggesting that the E3 Ub ligase activity of TFIIH mediates the transcriptional response to DNA damage.

Mechanisms of DNA damage recognition and strand discrimination in human nucleotide excision repair

Using only a limited repertoire of recognition subunits, the nucleotide excision repair (NER) system is able to detect a nearly infinite variety of bulky DNA lesions. This extraordinary substrate versatility has generally been ascribed to an indirect readout mechanism, whereby particular distortions of the double helix, induced by a damaged nucleotide, provide the molecular determinants not only for lesion recognition but also for subsequent verification or demarcation processes. Here, we discuss the evidence in support of a bipartite mechanism of substrate discrimination that is initiated by the detection of thermodynamically unstable base pairs followed by direct localization of the lesion through an enzymatic proofreading activity. This bipartite discrimination mechanism is part of a dynamic reaction cycle that confers high levels of selectivity to avoid futile repair events on undamaged DNA and also protect the intact complementary strand from inappropriate cleavage.

Unraveling DNA helicases. Motif, structure, mechanism and function

DNA helicases are molecular 'motor' enzymes that use the energy of NTP hydrolysis to separate transiently energetically stable duplex DNA into single strands. They are therefore essential in nearly all DNA metabolic transactions. They act as essential molecular tools for the cellular machinery. Since the discovery of the first DNA helicase in Escherichia coli in 1976, several have been isolated from both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. DNA helicases generally bind to ssDNA or ssDNA/dsDNA junctions and translocate mainly unidirectionally along the bound strand and disrupt the hydrogen bonds between the duplexes. Most helicases contain conserved motifs which act as an engine to drive DNA unwinding. Crystal structures have revealed an underlying common structural fold for their function. These structures suggest the role of the helicase motifs in catalytic function and offer clues as to how these proteins can translocate and unwind DNA. The genes containing helicase motifs may have evolved from a common ancestor. In this review we cover the conserved motifs, structural information, mechanism of DNA unwinding and translocation, and functional aspects of DNA helicases.

A new, tenth subunit of TFIIH is responsible for the DNA repair syndrome trichothiodystrophy group A

DNA repair-deficient trichothiodystrophy (TTD) results from mutations in the XPD and XPB subunits of the DNA repair and transcription factor TFIIH. In a third form of DNA repair-deficient TTD, called group A, none of the nine subunits encoding TFIIH carried mutations; instead, the steady-state level of the entire complex was severely reduced. A new, tenth TFIIH subunit (TFB5) was recently identified in yeast. Here, we describe the identification of the human TFB5 ortholog and its association with human TFIIH. Microinjection of cDNA encoding TFB5 (GTF2H5, also called TTDA) corrected the DNA-repair defect of TTD-A cells, and we identified three functional inactivating mutations in this gene in three unrelated families with TTD-A. The GTF2H5 gene product has a role in regulating the level of TFIIH. The identification of a new evolutionarily conserved subunit of TFIIH implicated in TTD-A provides insight into TFIIH function in transcription, DNA repair and human disease.

Structure and mechanism of the RNA polymerase II transcription machinery

Advances in structure determination of the bacterial and eukaryotic transcription machinery have led to a marked increase in the understanding of the mechanism of transcription. Models for the specific assembly of the RNA polymerase II transcription machinery at a promoter, conformational changes that occur during initiation of transcription, and the mechanism of initiation are discussed in light of recent developments.

Structural Basis of Transcription: An RNA Polymerase II-TFIIB Cocrystal at 4.5 Angstroms

The structure of the general transcription factor IIB (TFIIB) in a complex with RNA polymerase II reveals three features crucial for transcription initiation: an N-terminal zinc ribbon domain of TFIIB that contacts the "dock" domain of the polymerase, near the path of RNA exit from a transcribing enzyme; a "finger" domain of TFIIB that is inserted into the polymerase active center; and a C-terminal domain, whose interaction with both the polymerase and with a TATA box-binding protein (TBP)-promoter DNA complex orients the DNA for unwinding and transcription. TFIIB stabilizes an early initiation complex, containing an incomplete RNA-DNA hybrid region. It may interact with the template strand, which sets the location of the transcription start site, and may interfere with RNA exit, which leads to abortive initiation or promoter escape. The trajectory of promoter DNA determined by the C-terminal domain of TFIIB traverses sites of interaction with TFIIE, TFIIF, and TFIIH, serving to define their roles in the transcription initiation process.

The transcriptional complexity of the TFIIH complex

Mutations in some subunits of the basal DNA repair and transcription factor II H (TFIIH) are involved in several human genetic disorders. Transcription factor II H interacts with a variety of factors during transcription, including nuclear receptors, tissue-specific transcription factors, chromatin remodeling complexes and RNA, suggesting that, in addition to its essential role in transcription initiation, it also participates as a regulatory factor. Interpretation of the phenotypes produced by mutations in TFIIH is complicated by the recent finding that TFIIH plays a role in RNA polymerase I (RNA Pol I)-mediated transcription. In vitro reconstituted systems and genetic analysis suggest two possible explanations for the transcriptional phenotypes of TFIIH mutations that are not mutually excluding. The first is that different sets of genes require different levels of transcription to maintain a wild-type phenotype. The second suggests that mutations in TFIIH produce specific phenotypes arising from differential interactions of this complex with different transcription regulatory factors.