Fidelity of synthesis of preribosomal RNA in isolated nucleoli and nucleolar chromatin

Chicken liver non-histone protein fraction repressing DNA transcription in vitro

A chicken liver non-histone protein fraction repressing DNA transcription in vitro was isolated using ultrasound shearing followed by precipitation with divalent cations. It was characterized by SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. This inhibitory protein fraction showed strong affinity to DNA and represented non-histone proteins with main bands of mol. wt about 35000 and 56000 and isoelectric points about 5.7 and 6.2. The inhibitory non-histone protein fraction seems to repress DNA transcription by interacting with DNA template rather than with RNA polymerase.

Actinomycin D-binding in vivo: active chromatin preferred

Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and the endogenous engaged RNA polymerase I were used as specific probes to monitor the physiologically inactive and active nucleolar chromatin template function, respectively. Actinomycin D bound preferentially to the physiologically active regions of rat liver nucleolar chromatin in vivo.

Evidence for the transcription os physiologically inactive rat-liver nucleolar chromatin by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase

Rat-liver nucleoli (10-15 micrograms DNA) were digested with either 0.6 or 3 units of DNase I for various times (up to 1 h). RNA synthesis was then measured in the absence or presence of 3 units of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. It was found that the nucleolar chromatin supporting the endogenous engaged RNA polymerase I transcription was completely destroyed in 3 min with either concentration of DNase I. The nucleolar chromatin template transcribed by E. coli RNA polymerase retained 50% of its original capacity even 60 min after 3 units of DNase I digestion. When hybridization experiments were conducted, it was found that the DNAs derived from both levels of DNase-I-digested nucleoli were incapable of forming hybrids with the labelled nucleolar RNA synthesized by the engaged RNA polymerase I from the untreated nucleoli. Since the engaged RNA polymerase I transcribes only the physiologically active genes of the nucleolar chromatin, and the RNA transcripts represent active gene product, these data suggest that DNase I digestion has completely destroyed the active genes of the nucleolar chromatin, and E. coli RNA polymerase is able to transcribe the inactive nucleolar chromatin template.

Studies on the specificity of preribosomal RNA transcription in nucleoli after selective deproteinization

Fidelity of preribosomal RNA transcription in vitro was studied after selective deproteinization of nucleoli using either sequential salt extraction or sodium deoxycholate treatment. Homochromatography fingerprinting and identification of marker oligonucleotides from a T1 ribonuclease digest of the transcripts were used to evaluate the RNA products. These studies indicated that: (1) nucleoli retained their endogenous RNA polymerase I activity and the specificity of transcription up to 0.6 M NaCl extraction; (2) exogenous RNA polymerase I transcribed nucleolar chromatin only after 1.0 M NaCl extraction and the transcription pattern, like that of totally deproteinized DNA, was completely random; (3) extraction of nucleoli with deoxycholate resulted in a DNP complex in which the endogenous RNA polymerase I transcribed pre-rRNA specifically; however, it also initiated random transcription, producing a "mixed" fingerprint pattern on the homochromatogram. The random transcription was selectively inhibited either by deoxycholate or rifampicin AF/013. These studies indicate that the selectivity of pre-rRNA transcription is due both to the endogenous RNA polymerase I molecules that were involved in transcription in vivo and are tightly bound to the template and to factors in intact nucleoli which prevent random transcription by the released RNA polymerase I molecules.

Selective inhibition of preribosomal RNA synthesis by puromycin aminonucleoside in transformed human fibroblasts: studies of the nature of the inhibition in isolated nuclei and nucleoli

Puromycin aminonucleoside selectively inhibits the synthesis of ribosomal RNA in human lung fibroblasts transformed by the oncogenic virus SV40. The mechanism of this inhibition was studied utilizing nuclei and nucleoli isolated from cells treated for 18 hours with 100 micrograms/ml of this compound. It was established that for a limited period of time nuclei and nucleoli isolated from the fibroblasts continue synthesis of RNA of size classes seen in intact cells, and that the inhibitory effect of aminonucleoside persists after isolation of these organelles. The inhibition was shown to be directed primarily to the activity of RNA polymerase I. Studies of the mechanism of this inhibition have indicated that the decreased rate of the polymerase reaction is not due to the impairment of the template function of nucleolar chromatin, and that unbound, as well as chromatin-bound, RNA polymerase I is present in both control and treated nucleoli. Analysis of the size distribution of the products of cell-free RNA synthesis showed that aminonucleoside pretreatment results in marked reduction in the synthesis of preribosomal 45S RNA, abnormal accumulation of 32S RNA, and reduced formation of mature ribosomal RNA species in the in vitro system. The data suggest that the inhibitory effect of aminonucleoside on ribosomal synthesis is due in part to a lower rate of transcription by RNA polymerase I of preribosomal RNA, and in part to its impaired maturation.

Transcriptional properties of nucleoli isolated from Tetrahymena

Nucleoli can be isolated from Tetrahymena in a yield of 30-60%. The isolated nucleoli contain rDNA (at least 90% pure) and have a protein to DNA ratio of 30:1. The endogenous RNA-polymerase activity of the r-chromatin has the following properties: (i) The in vitro transcript has a maximal size identical to the in vivo 35S rRNA precursor, demonstrating correct termination on the gene, (ii) 79% of the in vitro transcript is complementary to cDNA of 17S and 25S rRNA which is close to the theoretical maximum for the 35S rRNA precursor, (iii) the elongation rate of the endogenous RNA-polymerase molecules is 9-12 nucleotides/sec, (iv) an average of 4-16 active RNA polymerases are associated with each rDNA molecule depending upon the preparation.

Mode of chromatin reconstitution. Elements controlling globin gene transcription

The mode of reconstitution has been determined for the factors that control globin gene transcription in chicken reticulocyte chromatin. During chromatin reconstitution, elements in the nonhistone protein fraction that control the globin gene reassociate with the DNA before the histones. From our results, it appears that it is necessary for these elements to reassociate with the DNA before the histones for the globin gene to be transcribed.