1
|
Hardtke HA, Moreno RY, Zhang YJ. Protocol for the in vitro reconstruction of site-specifically phosphorylated RNA Pol II to identify the recruitment of novel transcription regulators. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:103277. [PMID: 39196783 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The repetitive C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) becomes differentially phosphorylated throughout the transcription cycle. Here, we present a protocol to site-specifically phosphorylate the CTD of RNAPII by leveraging the specificity of well-characterized CTD kinases. We describe the steps for optimal phosphorylation of the CTD and the preparation of nuclear protein extract. This protocol can be used to identify the interactome of a phospho-CTD and has the potential to identify novel RNAPII-binding proteins. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Moreno et al.1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haley A Hardtke
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Rosamaria Y Moreno
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Y Jessie Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hardtke HA, Zhang YJ. Collaborators or competitors: the communication between RNA polymerase II and the nucleosome during eukaryotic transcription. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 59:1-19. [PMID: 38288999 PMCID: PMC11209794 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2024.2306365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Decades of scientific research have been devoted to unraveling the intricacies of eukaryotic transcription since the groundbreaking discovery of eukaryotic RNA polymerases in the late 1960s. RNA polymerase II, the polymerase responsible for mRNA synthesis, has always attracted the most attention. Despite its structural resemblance to its bacterial counterpart, eukaryotic RNA polymerase II faces a unique challenge in progressing transcription due to the presence of nucleosomes that package DNA in the nuclei. In this review, we delve into the impact of RNA polymerase II and histone signaling on the progression of eukaryotic transcription. We explore the pivotal points of interactions that bridge the RNA polymerase II and histone signaling systems. Finally, we present an analysis of recent cryo-electron microscopy structures, which captured RNA polymerase II-nucleosome complexes at different stages of the transcription cycle. The combination of the signaling crosstalk and the direct visualization of RNA polymerase II-nucleosome complexes provides a deeper understanding of the communication between these two major players in eukaryotic transcription.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haley A. Hardtke
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas, Austin
| | - Y. Jessie Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas, Austin
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu X, Chen M, Qu X, Liu W, Dou Y, Liu Q, Shi D, Jiang M, Li H. Cis-Regulatory Elements in Mammals. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:343. [PMID: 38203513 PMCID: PMC10779164 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In cis-regulatory elements, enhancers and promoters with complex molecular interactions are used to coordinate gene transcription through physical proximity and chemical modifications. These processes subsequently influence the phenotypic characteristics of an organism. An in-depth exploration of enhancers and promoters can substantially enhance our understanding of gene regulatory networks, shedding new light on mammalian development, evolution and disease pathways. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the intrinsic structural attributes, detection methodologies as well as the operational mechanisms of enhancers and promoters, coupled with the relevant novel and innovative investigative techniques used to explore their actions. We further elucidated the state-of-the-art research on the roles of enhancers and promoters in the realms of mammalian development, evolution and disease, and we conclude with forward-looking insights into prospective research avenues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mingsheng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530005, China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530005, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lee J, Cho H, Kwon I. Phase separation of low-complexity domains in cellular function and disease. EXPERIMENTAL & MOLECULAR MEDICINE 2022; 54:1412-1422. [PMID: 36175485 PMCID: PMC9534829 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00857-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we discuss the ways in which recent studies of low-complexity (LC) domains have challenged our understanding of the mechanisms underlying cellular organization. LC sequences, long believed to function in the absence of a molecular structure, are abundant in the proteomes of all eukaryotic organisms. Over the past decade, the phase separation of LC domains has emerged as a fundamental mechanism driving dynamic multivalent interactions of many cellular processes. We review the key evidence showing the role of phase separation of individual proteins in organizing cellular assemblies and facilitating biological function while implicating the dynamics of phase separation as a key to biological validity and functional utility. We also highlight the evidence showing that pathogenic LC proteins alter various phase separation-dependent interactions to elicit debilitating human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Progress in understanding the biology of phase separation may offer useful hints toward possible therapeutic interventions to combat the toxicity of pathogenic proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiwon Lee
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Hana Cho
- Department of Physiology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Korea.
| | - Ilmin Kwon
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fukudome A, Ishiga Y, Nagashima Y, Davidson KH, Chou HA, Mysore KS, Koiwa H. Functional diversity of Medicago truncatula RNA polymerase II CTD phosphatase isoforms produced in the Arabidopsis thaliana superexpression platform. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 321:111309. [PMID: 35696909 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Medicago truncatula is a model system for legume plants, which has substantially expanded the genome relative to the prototypical model dicot plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. An essential transcriptional regulator, FCP1 (transcription factor IIF-interacting RNA polymerase II carboxyl-terminal phosphatase 1) ortholog, is encoded by a single essential gene CPL4 (CTD-phosphatase-like 4), whereas M. truncatula genome contains four genes homologous to FCP1/AtCPL4, and splicing variants of MtCPL4 are observed. Functional diversification of MtCPL4 family proteins was analyzed using recombinant proteins (MtCPL4a1, MtCPL4a2, and MtCPL4b) produced in Arabidopsis cell culture system developed for plant protein overexpression. In vitro CTD phosphatase assay using highly purified MtCPL4 preparations revealed a potent CTD phosphatase activity in MtCPL4b, but not two splicing variants of MtCPL4a. On the other hand, in planta binding assay to RNA polymerase II (pol II) revealed a greater pol II-binding activity of both MtCPL4a variants. Our results indicate functional diversification of MtCPL4 isoforms and suggest the presence of a large number of functionally specialized CTD-phosphatase-like proteins in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akihito Fukudome
- Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Yasuhiro Ishiga
- Noble Research Institute, LLC., Ardmore, OK 73401, USA; Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Nagashima
- Vegetable and Fruit Development Center, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Katherine H Davidson
- Vegetable and Fruit Development Center, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Hsiu-An Chou
- Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Kirankumar S Mysore
- Noble Research Institute, LLC., Ardmore, OK 73401, USA; Institute for Agricultural Biosciences, Oklahoma State University, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74044, USA
| | - Hisashi Koiwa
- Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Vegetable and Fruit Development Center, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ma J, Mudiyanselage SDD, Wang Y. Emerging value of the viroid model in molecular biology and beyond. Virus Res 2022; 313:198730. [PMID: 35263622 PMCID: PMC8976779 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Viroids are single-stranded circular noncoding RNAs that infect plants. Research in the past five decades has deciphered the viroid genome structures, viroid replication cycles, numerous host factors for viroid infection, viroid motifs for intracellular and intercellular trafficking, interactions with host defense machinery, etc. In this review, we mainly focus on some significant questions that remain to be tackled, centered around (1) how the RNA polymerase II machinery performs transcription on RNA templates of nuclear-replicating viroids, (2) how viroid RNAs coordinate multiple structural elements for diverse functions, and (3) how viroid RNAs activate plant immunity. Research on viroids has led to seminal discoveries in biology, and we expect the research directions outlined in this review to continue providing key knowledge inspiring other areas of biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junfei Ma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, MS 39762, USA
| | | | - Ying Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, MS 39762, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pitolli C, Marini A, Sette C, Pagliarini V. Non-Canonical Splicing and Its Implications in Brain Physiology and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052811. [PMID: 35269953 PMCID: PMC8911335 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The advance of experimental and computational techniques has allowed us to highlight the existence of numerous different mechanisms of RNA maturation, which have been so far unknown. Besides canonical splicing, consisting of the removal of introns from pre-mRNA molecules, non-canonical splicing events may occur to further increase the regulatory and coding potential of the human genome. Among these, splicing of microexons, recursive splicing and biogenesis of circular and chimeric RNAs through back-splicing and trans-splicing processes, respectively, all contribute to expanding the repertoire of RNA transcripts with newly acquired regulatory functions. Interestingly, these non-canonical splicing events seem to occur more frequently in the central nervous system, affecting neuronal development and differentiation programs with important implications on brain physiology. Coherently, dysregulation of non-canonical RNA processing events is associated with brain disorders, including brain tumours. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge on molecular and regulatory mechanisms underlying canonical and non-canonical splicing events with particular emphasis on cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors that all together orchestrate splicing catalysis reactions and decisions. Lastly, we review the impact of non-canonical splicing on brain physiology and pathology and how unconventional splicing mechanisms may be targeted or exploited for novel therapeutic strategies in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Consuelo Pitolli
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (C.P.); (C.S.)
- GSTEP-Organoids Research Core Facility, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alberto Marini
- GSTEP-Organoids Research Core Facility, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Claudio Sette
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (C.P.); (C.S.)
- GSTEP-Organoids Research Core Facility, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Vittoria Pagliarini
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (C.P.); (C.S.)
- GSTEP-Organoids Research Core Facility, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chaves-Arquero B, Martínez-Lumbreras S, Camero S, Santiveri CM, Mirassou Y, Campos-Olivas R, Jiménez MÁ, Calvo O, Pérez-Cañadillas JM. Structural basis of Nrd1-Nab3 heterodimerization. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/4/e202101252. [PMID: 35022249 PMCID: PMC8761494 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The NMR structure of an Nrd1–Nab3 chimera describes the structural bases of Nrd1/Nab3 heterodimerization. Nrd1 embraces a bundle of helices in Nab3, building a large interface. Key mutations at that interface compromise cell fitness. Heterodimerization of RNA binding proteins Nrd1 and Nab3 is essential to communicate the RNA recognition in the nascent transcript with the Nrd1 recognition of the Ser5-phosphorylated Rbp1 C-terminal domain in RNA polymerase II. The structure of a Nrd1–Nab3 chimera reveals the basis of heterodimerization, filling a missing gap in knowledge of this system. The free form of the Nrd1 interaction domain of Nab3 (NRID) forms a multi-state three-helix bundle that is clamped in a single conformation upon complex formation with the Nab3 interaction domain of Nrd1 (NAID). The latter domain forms two long helices that wrap around NRID, resulting in an extensive protein–protein interface that would explain the highly favorable free energy of heterodimerization. Mutagenesis of some conserved hydrophobic residues involved in the heterodimerization leads to temperature-sensitive phenotypes, revealing the importance of this interaction in yeast cell fitness. The Nrd1–Nab3 structure resembles the previously reported Rna14/Rna15 heterodimer structure, which is part of the poly(A)-dependent termination pathway, suggesting that both machineries use similar structural solutions despite they share little sequence homology and are potentially evolutionary divergent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Belén Chaves-Arquero
- Departamento de Química-Física Biológica, Instituto de Química-Física "Rocasolano" (IQFR), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Santiago Martínez-Lumbreras
- Departamento de Química-Física Biológica, Instituto de Química-Física "Rocasolano" (IQFR), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany and Bavarian NMR Centre, Chemistry Department, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Sergio Camero
- Departamento de Química-Física Biológica, Instituto de Química-Física "Rocasolano" (IQFR), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Clara M Santiveri
- Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Unit, Structural Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yasmina Mirassou
- Departamento de Química-Física Biológica, Instituto de Química-Física "Rocasolano" (IQFR), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico (CNAG)-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramón Campos-Olivas
- Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Unit, Structural Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Ángeles Jiménez
- Departamento de Química-Física Biológica, Instituto de Química-Física "Rocasolano" (IQFR), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Olga Calvo
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - José Manuel Pérez-Cañadillas
- Departamento de Química-Física Biológica, Instituto de Química-Física "Rocasolano" (IQFR), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Disrupting the Molecular Pathway in Myotonic Dystrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413225. [PMID: 34948025 PMCID: PMC8708683 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy is the most common muscular dystrophy in adults. It consists of two forms: type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2). DM1 is associated with a trinucleotide repeat expansion mutation, which is transcribed but not translated into protein. The mutant RNA remains in the nucleus, which leads to a series of downstream abnormalities. DM1 is widely considered to be an RNA-based disorder. Thus, we consider three areas of the RNA pathway that may offer targeting opportunities to disrupt the production, stability, and degradation of the mutant RNA.
Collapse
|
10
|
Delgado-Román I, Muñoz-Centeno MC. Coupling Between Cell Cycle Progression and the Nuclear RNA Polymerases System. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:691636. [PMID: 34409067 PMCID: PMC8365833 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.691636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic life is possible due to the multitude of complex and precise phenomena that take place in the cell. Essential processes like gene transcription, mRNA translation, cell growth, and proliferation, or membrane traffic, among many others, are strictly regulated to ensure functional success. Such systems or vital processes do not work and adjusts independently of each other. It is required to ensure coordination among them which requires communication, or crosstalk, between their different elements through the establishment of complex regulatory networks. Distortion of this coordination affects, not only the specific processes involved, but also the whole cell fate. However, the connection between some systems and cell fate, is not yet very well understood and opens lots of interesting questions. In this review, we focus on the coordination between the function of the three nuclear RNA polymerases and cell cycle progression. Although we mainly focus on the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, different aspects and similarities in higher eukaryotes are also addressed. We will first focus on how the different phases of the cell cycle affect the RNA polymerases activity and then how RNA polymerases status impacts on cell cycle. A good example of how RNA polymerases functions impact on cell cycle is the ribosome biogenesis process, which needs the coordinated and balanced production of mRNAs and rRNAs synthesized by the three eukaryotic RNA polymerases. Distortions of this balance generates ribosome biogenesis alterations that can impact cell cycle progression. We also pay attention to those cases where specific cell cycle defects generate in response to repressed synthesis of ribosomal proteins or RNA polymerases assembly defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Delgado-Román
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Hospital Universitario V. Del Rocío, Seville, Spain.,Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Mari Cruz Muñoz-Centeno
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Hospital Universitario V. Del Rocío, Seville, Spain.,Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Enhancer RNA: biogenesis, function, and regulation. Essays Biochem 2021; 64:883-894. [PMID: 33034351 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20200014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Enhancers are noncoding DNA elements that are present upstream or downstream of a gene to control its spatial and temporal expression. Specific histone modifications, such as monomethylation on histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me1) and H3K27ac, have been widely used to assign enhancer regions in mammalian genomes. In recent years, emerging evidence suggests that active enhancers are bidirectionally transcribed to produce enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). This finding not only adds a new reliable feature to define enhancers but also raises a fundamental question of how eRNAs function to activate transcription. Although some believe that eRNAs are merely transcriptional byproducts, many studies have demonstrated that eRNAs execute crucial tasks in regulating chromatin conformation and transcription activation. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of eRNAs from their biogenesis, functions, and regulation to their pathological significance. Additionally, we discuss the challenges and possible mechanisms of eRNAs in regulated transcription.
Collapse
|
12
|
Venkat Ramani MK, Yang W, Irani S, Zhang Y. Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication-Crosstalk of Post-translational Modifications on the RNA Polymerase II. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166912. [PMID: 33676925 PMCID: PMC8184622 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The highly conserved C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II comprises a consensus heptad (Y1S2P3T4S5P6S7) repeated multiple times. Despite the simplicity of its sequence, the essential CTD domain orchestrates eukaryotic transcription and co-transcriptional processes, including transcription initiation, elongation, and termination, and mRNA processing. These distinct facets of the transcription cycle rely on specific post-translational modifications (PTM) of the CTD, in which five out of the seven residues in the heptad repeat are subject to phosphorylation. A hypothesis termed the "CTD code" has been proposed in which these PTMs and their combinations generate a sophisticated landscape for spatiotemporal recruitment of transcription regulators to Pol II. In this review, we summarize the recent experimental evidence understanding the biological role of the CTD, implicating a context-dependent theme that significantly enhances the ability of accurate transcription by RNA polymerase II. Furthermore, feedback communication between the CTD and histone modifications coordinates chromatin states with RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription, ensuring the effective and accurate conversion of information into cellular responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Wanjie Yang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States
| | - Seema Irani
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States; The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology. University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
González-Jiménez A, Campos A, Navarro F, Clemente-Blanco A, Calvo O. Regulation of Eukaryotic RNAPs Activities by Phosphorylation. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:681865. [PMID: 34250017 PMCID: PMC8268151 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.681865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Evolutionarily conserved kinases and phosphatases regulate RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcript synthesis by modifying the phosphorylation status of the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of Rpb1, the largest subunit of RNAPII. Proper levels of Rpb1-CTD phosphorylation are required for RNA co-transcriptional processing and to coordinate transcription with other nuclear processes, such as chromatin remodeling and histone modification. Whether other RNAPII subunits are phosphorylated and influences their role in gene expression is still an unanswered question. Much less is known about RNAPI and RNAPIII phosphorylation, whose subunits do not contain functional CTDs. However, diverse studies have reported that several RNAPI and RNAPIII subunits are susceptible to phosphorylation. Some of these phosphorylation sites are distributed within subunits common to all three RNAPs whereas others are only shared between RNAPI and RNAPIII. This suggests that the activities of all RNAPs might be finely modulated by phosphorylation events and raises the idea of a tight coordination between the three RNAPs. Supporting this view, the transcription by all RNAPs is regulated by signaling pathways that sense different environmental cues to adapt a global RNA transcriptional response. This review focuses on how the phosphorylation of RNAPs might regulate their function and we comment on the regulation by phosphorylation of some key transcription factors in the case of RNAPI and RNAPIII. Finally, we discuss the existence of possible common mechanisms that could coordinate their activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Araceli González-Jiménez
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Adrián Campos
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Francisco Navarro
- Departamento de Biología Experimental-Genética, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain.,Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Aceite de Oliva y Olivar, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Andrés Clemente-Blanco
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Olga Calvo
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Sawicka A, Villamil G, Lidschreiber M, Darzacq X, Dugast-Darzacq C, Schwalb B, Cramer P. Transcription activation depends on the length of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain. EMBO J 2021; 40:e107015. [PMID: 33555055 PMCID: PMC8090853 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020107015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic RNA polymerase II (Pol II) contains a tail‐like, intrinsically disordered carboxy‐terminal domain (CTD) comprised of heptad‐repeats, that functions in coordination of the transcription cycle and in coupling transcription to co‐transcriptional processes. The CTD repeat number varies between species and generally increases with genome size, but the reasons for this are unclear. Here, we show that shortening the CTD in human cells to half of its length does not generally change pre‐mRNA synthesis or processing in cells. However, CTD shortening decreases the duration of promoter‐proximal Pol II pausing, alters transcription of putative enhancer elements, and delays transcription activation after stimulation of the MAP kinase pathway. We suggest that a long CTD is required for efficient enhancer‐dependent recruitment of Pol II to target genes for their rapid activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sawicka
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gabriel Villamil
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Lidschreiber
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xavier Darzacq
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,CIRM Center of Excellence, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Claire Dugast-Darzacq
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,CIRM Center of Excellence, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Björn Schwalb
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Cramer
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Mayfield JE, Irani S, Zhang Y. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay of in vitro Phosphorylated RNA Polymerase II Carboxyl-terminal Domain Substrates. Bio Protoc 2020; 10:e3648. [PMID: 33659319 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.3648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic RNA polymerase II transcribes all protein-coding mRNAs and is highly regulated. A key mechanism directing RNA polymerase II and facilitating the co-transcriptional processing of mRNAs is the phosphorylation of its highly repetitive carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of its largest subunit, RPB1, at specific residues. A variety of techniques exist to identify and quantify the degree of CTD phosphorylation, including phosphorylation-specific antibodies and mass spectrometry. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) have been utilized since the discovery of CTD phosphorylation and continue to represent a simple, direct, and widely applicable approach for qualitatively monitoring CTD phosphorylation. We present a standardized method for EMSA analysis of recombinant GST-CTD substrates phosphorylated by a variety of CTD kinases. Strategies to analyze samples under both denatured/reduced and semi-native conditions are provided. This method represents a simple, direct, and reproducible means to monitor CTD phosphorylation in recombinant substrates utilizing equipment common to molecular biology labs and readily applicable to downstream analyses including immunoblotting and mass spectrometry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua E Mayfield
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Seema Irani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.,Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Yeast Spt6 Reads Multiple Phosphorylation Patterns of RNA Polymerase II C-Terminal Domain In Vitro. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:4092-4107. [PMID: 32439331 PMCID: PMC7327521 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Transcription elongation factor Spt6 associates with RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) via a tandem SH2 (tSH2) domain. The mechanism and significance of the RNAP II–Spt6 interaction is still unclear. Recently, it was proposed that Spt6-tSH2 is recruited via a newly described phosphorylated linker between the Rpb1 core and its C-terminal domain (CTD). Here, we report binding studies with isolated tSH2 of Spt6 (Spt6-tSH2) and Spt6 lacking the first unstructured 297 residues (Spt6ΔN) with a minimal CTD substrate of two repetitive heptads phosphorylated at different sites. The data demonstrate that Spt6 also binds the phosphorylated CTD, a site that was originally proposed as a recognition epitope. We also show that an extended CTD substrate harboring 13 repetitive heptads of the tyrosine-phosphorylated CTD binds Spt6-tSH2 and Spt6ΔN with tighter affinity than the minimal CTD substrate. The enhanced binding is achieved by avidity originating from multiple phosphorylation marks present in the CTD. Interestingly, we found that the steric effects of additional domains in the Spt6ΔN construct partially obscure the binding of the tSH2 domain to the multivalent ligand. We show that Spt6-tSH2 binds various phosphorylation patterns in the CTD and found that the studied combinations of phospho-CTD marks (1,2; 1,5; 2,4; and 2,7) all facilitate the interaction of CTD with Spt6. Our structural studies reveal a plasticity of the tSH2 binding pockets that enables the accommodation of CTDs with phosphorylation marks in different registers. High-affinity Pol II CTD-binding by Spt6 is achieved by avidity originating from multiple phosphorylation marks presented in the CTD, suggesting how phosphorylation levels fine-tune the CTD interactome. Structure of RNAP II CTD bound with tandem SH2 domain of Spt6 reveals how phosphorylated CTD is recognized. Isolated tSH2 of Spt6 binds the extended CTD substrate with tighter affinity than nearly full-length Spt6, suggesting that the steric effects of additional domains in Spt6 influence the binding of the tSH2 domain to the multivalent CTD ligand.
Collapse
|
17
|
Botto AEC, Muñoz JC, Giono LE, Nieto-Moreno N, Cuenca C, Kornblihtt AR, Muñoz MJ. Reciprocal regulation between alternative splicing and the DNA damage response. Genet Mol Biol 2020; 43:e20190111. [PMID: 32236390 PMCID: PMC7197977 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2019-0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Splicing, the process that catalyzes intron removal and flanking exon ligation, can occur in different ways (alternative splicing) in immature RNAs transcribed from a single gene. In order to adapt to a particular context, cells modulate not only the quantity but also the quality (alternative isoforms) of their transcriptome. Since 95% of the human coding genome is subjected to alternative splicing regulation, it is expected that many cellular pathways are modulated by alternative splicing, as is the case for the DNA damage response. Moreover, recent evidence demonstrates that upon a genotoxic insult, classical DNA damage response kinases such as ATM, ATR and DNA-PK orchestrate the gene expression response therefore modulating alternative splicing which, in a reciprocal way, shapes the response to a damaging agent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian E Cambindo Botto
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan C Muñoz
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luciana E Giono
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nicolás Nieto-Moreno
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carmen Cuenca
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alberto R Kornblihtt
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Manuel J Muñoz
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Celular, Instituto de Fisiologia, Biologia Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Fondazione Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare (IFOM), Milan, Italy.,Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Tarczewska A, Greb-Markiewicz B. The Significance of the Intrinsically Disordered Regions for the Functions of the bHLH Transcription Factors. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E5306. [PMID: 31653121 PMCID: PMC6862971 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20215306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The bHLH proteins are a family of eukaryotic transcription factors regulating expression of a wide range of genes involved in cell differentiation and development. They contain the Helix-Loop-Helix (HLH) domain, preceded by a stretch of basic residues, which are responsible for dimerization and binding to E-box sequences. In addition to the well-preserved DNA-binding bHLH domain, these proteins may contain various additional domains determining the specificity of performed transcriptional regulation. According to this, the family has been divided into distinct classes. Our aim was to emphasize the significance of existing disordered regions within the bHLH transcription factors for their functionality. Flexible, intrinsically disordered regions containing various motives and specific sequences allow for multiple interactions with transcription co-regulators. Also, based on in silico analysis and previous studies, we hypothesize that the bHLH proteins have a general ability to undergo spontaneous phase separation, forming or participating into liquid condensates which constitute functional centers involved in transcription regulation. We shortly introduce recent findings on the crucial role of the thermodynamically liquid-liquid driven phase separation in transcription regulation by disordered regions of regulatory proteins. We believe that further experimental studies should be performed in this field for better understanding of the mechanism of gene expression regulation (among others regarding oncogenes) by important and linked to many diseases the bHLH transcription factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Tarczewska
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Beata Greb-Markiewicz
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Aristizabal MJ, Dever K, Negri GL, Shen M, Hawe N, Benschop JJ, Holstege FCP, Krogan NJ, Sadowski I, Kobor MS. Regulation of Skn7-dependent, oxidative stress-induced genes by the RNA polymerase II-CTD phosphatase, Fcp1, and Mediator kinase subunit, Cdk8, in yeast. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:16080-16094. [PMID: 31506296 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.008515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Fcp1 is a protein phosphatase that facilitates transcription elongation and termination by dephosphorylating the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II. High-throughput genetic screening and gene expression profiling of fcp1 mutants revealed a novel connection to Cdk8, the Mediator complex kinase subunit, and Skn7, a key transcription factor in the oxidative stress response pathway. Briefly, Skn7 was enriched as a regulator of genes whose mRNA levels were altered in fcp1 and cdk8Δ mutants and was required for the suppression of fcp1 mutant growth defects by loss of CDK8 under oxidative stress conditions. Targeted analysis revealed that mutating FCP1 decreased Skn7 mRNA and protein levels as well as its association with target gene promoters but paradoxically increased the mRNA levels of Skn7-dependent oxidative stress-induced genes (TRX2 and TSA1) under basal and induced conditions. The latter was in part recapitulated via chemical inhibition of transcription in WT cells, suggesting that a combination of transcriptional and posttranscriptional effects underscored the increased mRNA levels of TRX2 and TSA1 observed in the fcp1 mutant. Interestingly, loss of CDK8 robustly normalized the mRNA levels of Skn7-dependent genes in the fcp1 mutant background and also increased Skn7 protein levels by preventing its turnover. As such, our work suggested that loss of CDK8 could overcome transcriptional and/or posttranscriptional alterations in the fcp1 mutant through its regulatory effect on Skn7. Furthermore, our work also implicated FCP1 and CDK8 in the broader response to environmental stressors in yeast.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria J Aristizabal
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4H4, Canada.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada.,Child and Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z8, Canada
| | - Kristy Dever
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Gian Luca Negri
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, Vancouver V5Z 1L3, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mary Shen
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Nicole Hawe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Epigenetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Joris J Benschop
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Frank C P Holstege
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Heidelberglaan 25, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Nevan J Krogan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158
| | - Ivan Sadowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Epigenetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael S Kobor
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4H4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Rodrigues DF, Costa VM, Silvestre R, Bastos ML, Carvalho F. Methods for the analysis of transcriptome dynamics. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2019; 8:597-612. [PMID: 31588338 PMCID: PMC6764467 DOI: 10.1039/c9tx00088g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcriptome is the complete set of transcripts in a cell or tissue and includes ribosomal RNA (rRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and regulatory noncoding RNA. At steady-state, the transcriptome results from a compensatory variation of the transcription and decay rate to maintain the RNA concentration constant. RNA transcription constitutes the first stage in gene expression, and thus is a major and primary mode of gene expression control. Nevertheless, regulation of RNA decay is also a key factor in gene expression control, involving either selective RNA stabilization or enhanced degradation. Transcriptome analysis allows the identification of gene expression alterations, providing new insights regarding the pathways and mechanisms involved in physiological and pathological processes. Upon perturbation of cell homeostasis, rapid changes in gene expression are required to adapt to new conditions. Thus, to better understand the regulatory mechanisms associated with gene expression alterations, it is vital to acknowledge the relative contribution of RNA synthesis and decay to the transcriptome. To the toxicology field, the study of gene expression regulation mechanisms can help identify the early and mechanistic relevant cellular events associated with a particular response. This review aims to provide a critical comparison of the available methods used to analyze the contribution of RNA transcription and decay to gene expression dynamics. Notwithstanding, an integration of the data obtained is necessary to understand the entire repercussions of gene transcription changes at a system-level. Thus, a brief overview of the methods available for the integration and analysis of the data obtained from transcriptome analysis will also be provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela F Rodrigues
- UCIBIO , REQUIMTE , Laboratory of Toxicology , Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Porto , Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira , 228 , 4050-313 , Porto , Portugal . ;
| | - Vera M Costa
- UCIBIO , REQUIMTE , Laboratory of Toxicology , Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Porto , Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira , 228 , 4050-313 , Porto , Portugal . ;
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) , School of Medicine , University of Minho , Campus de Gualtar , 4710-057 , Braga , Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory , Braga/Guimarães , Campus de Gualtar , 4710-057 , Braga , Portugal
| | - Maria L Bastos
- UCIBIO , REQUIMTE , Laboratory of Toxicology , Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Porto , Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira , 228 , 4050-313 , Porto , Portugal . ;
| | - Félix Carvalho
- UCIBIO , REQUIMTE , Laboratory of Toxicology , Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Porto , Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira , 228 , 4050-313 , Porto , Portugal . ;
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Shah N, Decker TM, Eick D. Extension of the minimal functional unit of the RNA polymerase II CTD from yeast to mammalian cells. Biol Lett 2019; 15:20190068. [PMID: 31088280 PMCID: PMC6548728 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) consists of 26 and 52 heptad-repeats in yeast and mammals, respectively. Studies in yeast showed that the strong periodicity of the YSPTSPS heptads is dispensable for cell growth and that di-heptads interspersed by spacers can act as minimal functional units (MFUs) to fulfil all essential CTD functions. Here, we show that the MFU of mammalian cells is significantly larger than in yeast and consists of penta-heptads. We further show that the distance between two MFUs is critical for the functions of mammalian CTD. Our study suggests that the general structure of the CTD remained largely unchanged in yeast and mammals; however, besides the number of heptad-repeats, also the length of the MFU significantly increased in mammals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nilay Shah
- 1 Department of Molecular Epigenetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM) , Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377 Munich , Germany
| | - Tim-Michael Decker
- 1 Department of Molecular Epigenetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM) , Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377 Munich , Germany.,2 Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado , Boulder, CO 80303 , USA
| | - Dirk Eick
- 1 Department of Molecular Epigenetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM) , Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377 Munich , Germany
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Gottesfeld JM. Milestones in transcription and chromatin published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:1652-1660. [PMID: 30710013 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.tm118.004162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
During Herbert Tabor's tenure as Editor-in-Chief from 1971 to 2010, JBC has published many seminal papers in the fields of chromatin structure, epigenetics, and regulation of transcription in eukaryotes. As of this writing, more than 21,000 studies on gene transcription at the molecular level have been published in JBC since 1971. This brief review will attempt to highlight some of these ground-breaking discoveries and show how early studies published in JBC have influenced current research. Papers published in the Journal have reported the initial discovery of multiple forms of RNA polymerase in eukaryotes, identification and purification of essential components of the transcription machinery, and identification and mechanistic characterization of various transcriptional activators and repressors and include studies on chromatin structure and post-translational modifications of the histone proteins. The large body of literature published in the Journal has inspired current research on how chromatin organization and epigenetics impact regulation of gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joel M Gottesfeld
- Departments of Molecular Medicine and Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Efficient and robust preparation of tyrosine phosphorylated intrinsically disordered proteins. Biotechniques 2019; 67:16-22. [PMID: 31092000 DOI: 10.2144/btn-2019-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are subject to post-translational modifications. This allows the same polypeptide to be involved in different interaction networks with different consequences, ranging from regulatory signalling networks to the formation of membrane-less organelles. We report a robust method for co-expression of modification enzyme and SUMO-tagged IDPs with a subsequent purification procedure that allows for the production of modified IDP. The robustness of our protocol is demonstrated using a challenging system: RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain (CTD); that is, a low-complexity repetitive region with multiple phosphorylation sites. In vitro phosphorylation approaches fail to yield multiple-site phosphorylated CTD, whereas our in vivo protocol allows the rapid production of near homogeneous phosphorylated CTD at a low cost. These samples can be used in functional and structural studies.
Collapse
|
24
|
Genes Robles CM, Coin F. Conducting the CTD orchestra. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 15:97-98. [PMID: 30598542 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-018-0201-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Frédéric Coin
- Department of Functional Genomics and Cancer, IGBMC, Illkirch Graffenstaden, France.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Nemec CM, Singh AK, Ali A, Tseng SC, Syal K, Ringelberg KJ, Ho YH, Hintermair C, Ahmad MF, Kar RK, Gasch AP, Akhtar MS, Eick D, Ansari AZ. Noncanonical CTD kinases regulate RNA polymerase II in a gene-class-specific manner. Nat Chem Biol 2018; 15:123-131. [PMID: 30598543 PMCID: PMC6339578 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-018-0194-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) governs stage-specific interactions with different cellular machines. The CTD consists of Y1S2P3T4S5P6S7 heptad repeats, and sequential phosphorylations of Ser7, Ser5 and Ser2 occur universally across Pol II-transcribed genes. Phosphorylation of Thr4, however, appears to selectively modulate transcription of specific classes of genes. Here, we identify 10 new Thr4 kinases from different kinase structural groups. Irreversible chemical inhibition of the most active Thr4 kinase, Hrr25, reveals a novel role for this kinase in transcription termination of specific class of noncoding snoRNA genes. Genome-wide profiles of Hrr25 reveal a selective enrichment at 3ʹ regions of noncoding genes that display termination defects. Importantly, phospho-Thr4 marks placed by Hrr25 are recognized by Rtt103, a key component of the termination machinery. Our results suggest that these uncommon CTD kinases selectively place phospho-Thr4 marks to regulate expression of targeted genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Corey M Nemec
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Amit K Singh
- Molecular and Structural Biology Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow, India
| | - Asfa Ali
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sandra C Tseng
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kirtimaan Syal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Yi-Hsuan Ho
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Corinna Hintermair
- Department of Molecular Epigenetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Center of Integrated Protein Science, Munich, Germany
| | - Mohammad Faiz Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Rajesh Kumar Kar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Audrey P Gasch
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Md Sohail Akhtar
- Molecular and Structural Biology Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow, India
| | - Dirk Eick
- Department of Molecular Epigenetics, Helmholtz Center Munich, Center of Integrated Protein Science, Munich, Germany
| | - Aseem Z Ansari
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Kato M, McKnight SL. A Solid-State Conceptualization of Information Transfer from Gene to Message to Protein. Annu Rev Biochem 2018; 87:351-390. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-061516-044700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we describe speculative ideas and early stage research concerning the flow of genetic information from the nuclear residence of genes to the disparate, cytoplasmic sites of protein synthesis. We propose that this process of information transfer is meticulously guided by transient structures formed from protein segments of low sequence complexity/intrinsic disorder. These low complexity domains are ubiquitously associated with regulatory proteins that control gene expression and RNA biogenesis, but they are also found in the central channel of nuclear pores, the nexus points of intermediate filament assembly, and the locations of action of other well-studied cellular proteins and pathways. Upon being organized into localized cellular positions via mechanisms utilizing properly folded protein domains, thereby facilitating elevated local concentration, certain low complexity domains adopt cross-β interactions that are both structurally specific and labile to disassembly. These weakly tethered assemblies, we propose, are built to relay the passage of genetic information from one site to another within a cell, ensuring that the process is of extreme fidelity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masato Kato
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9152, USA
| | - Steven L. McKnight
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9152, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Davies HM, Nofal SD, McLaughlin EJ, Osborne AR. Repetitive sequences in malaria parasite proteins. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2018; 41:923-940. [PMID: 29077880 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fux046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Five species of parasite cause malaria in humans with the most severe disease caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Many of the proteins encoded in the P. falciparum genome are unusually enriched in repetitive low-complexity sequences containing a limited repertoire of amino acids. These repetitive sequences expand and contract dynamically and are among the most rapidly changing sequences in the genome. The simplest repetitive sequences consist of single amino acid repeats such as poly-asparagine tracts that are found in approximately 25% of P. falciparum proteins. More complex repeats of two or more amino acids are also common in diverse parasite protein families. There is no universal explanation for the occurrence of repetitive sequences and it is possible that many confer no function to the encoded protein and no selective advantage or disadvantage to the parasite. However, there are increasing numbers of examples where repetitive sequences are important for parasite protein function. We discuss the diverse roles of low-complexity repetitive sequences throughout the parasite life cycle, from mediating protein-protein interactions to enabling the parasite to evade the host immune system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heledd M Davies
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie D Nofal
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Emilia J McLaughlin
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew R Osborne
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.,Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Janke AM, Seo DH, Rahmanian V, Conicella AE, Mathews KL, Burke KA, Mittal J, Fawzi NL. Lysines in the RNA Polymerase II C-Terminal Domain Contribute to TAF15 Fibril Recruitment. Biochemistry 2017; 57:2549-2563. [PMID: 28945358 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Many cancer-causing chromosomal translocations result in transactivating protein products encoding FET family (FUS, EWSR1, TAF15) low-complexity (LC) domains fused to a DNA binding domain from one of several transcription factors. Recent work demonstrates that higher-order assemblies of FET LC domains bind the carboxy-terminal domain of the large subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNA pol II CTD), suggesting FET oncoproteins may mediate aberrant transcriptional activation by recruiting RNA polymerase II to promoters of target genes. Here we use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and hydrogel fluorescence microscopy localization and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching to visualize atomic details of a model of this process, interactions of RNA pol II CTD with high-molecular weight TAF15 LC assemblies. We report NMR resonance assignments of the intact degenerate repeat half of human RNA pol II CTD alone and verify its predominant intrinsic disorder by molecular simulation. By measuring NMR spin relaxation and dark-state exchange saturation transfer, we characterize the interaction of RNA pol II CTD with amyloid-like hydrogel fibrils of TAF15 and hnRNP A2 LC domains and observe that heptads far from the acidic C-terminal tail of RNA pol II CTD bind TAF15 fibrils most avidly. Mutation of CTD lysines in heptad position 7 to consensus serines reduced the overall level of TAF15 fibril binding, suggesting that electrostatic interactions contribute to complex formation. Conversely, mutations of position 7 asparagine residues and truncation of the acidic tail had little effect. Thus, weak, multivalent interactions between TAF15 fibrils and heptads throughout RNA pol II CTD collectively mediate complex formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail M Janke
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology , Brown University , Providence , Rhode Island 02921 , United States
| | - Da Hee Seo
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology , Brown University , Providence , Rhode Island 02921 , United States
| | - Vahid Rahmanian
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Lehigh University , Bethlehem , Pennsylvania 18015 , United States
| | - Alexander E Conicella
- Graduate Program in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry , Brown University , Providence , Rhode Island 02912 , United States
| | - Kaylee L Mathews
- Graduate Program in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry , Brown University , Providence , Rhode Island 02912 , United States
| | - Kathleen A Burke
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology , Brown University , Providence , Rhode Island 02921 , United States
| | - Jeetain Mittal
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Lehigh University , Bethlehem , Pennsylvania 18015 , United States
| | - Nicolas L Fawzi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology , Brown University , Providence , Rhode Island 02921 , United States.,Graduate Program in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry , Brown University , Providence , Rhode Island 02912 , United States
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Herzel L, Ottoz DSM, Alpert T, Neugebauer KM. Splicing and transcription touch base: co-transcriptional spliceosome assembly and function. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2017; 18:637-650. [PMID: 28792005 DOI: 10.1038/nrm.2017.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 230] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Several macromolecular machines collaborate to produce eukaryotic messenger RNA. RNA polymerase II (Pol II) translocates along genes that are up to millions of base pairs in length and generates a flexible RNA copy of the DNA template. This nascent RNA harbours introns that are removed by the spliceosome, which is a megadalton ribonucleoprotein complex that positions the distant ends of the intron into its catalytic centre. Emerging evidence that the catalytic spliceosome is physically close to Pol II in vivo implies that transcription and splicing occur on similar timescales and that the transcription and splicing machineries may be spatially constrained. In this Review, we discuss aspects of spliceosome assembly, transcription elongation and other co-transcriptional events that allow the temporal coordination of co-transcriptional splicing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Herzel
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Diana S M Ottoz
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Tara Alpert
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Karla M Neugebauer
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Different phosphoisoforms of RNA polymerase II engage the Rtt103 termination factor in a structurally analogous manner. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E3944-E3953. [PMID: 28465432 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1700128114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) orchestrates dynamic recruitment of specific cellular machines during different stages of transcription. Signature phosphorylation patterns of Y1S2P3T4S5P6S7 heptapeptide repeats of the CTD engage specific "readers." Whereas phospho-Ser5 and phospho-Ser2 marks are ubiquitous, phospho-Thr4 is reported to only impact specific genes. Here, we identify a role for phospho-Thr4 in transcription termination at noncoding small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) genes. Quantitative proteomics reveals an interactome of known readers as well as protein complexes that were not known to rely on Thr4 for association with Pol II. The data indicate a key role for Thr4 in engaging the machinery used for transcription elongation and termination. We focus on Rtt103, a protein that binds phospho-Ser2 and phospho-Thr4 marks and facilitates transcription termination at protein-coding genes. To elucidate how Rtt103 engages two distinct CTD modifications that are differentially enriched at noncoding genes, we relied on NMR analysis of Rtt103 in complex with phospho-Thr4- or phospho-Ser2-bearing CTD peptides. The structural data reveal that Rtt103 interacts with phospho-Thr4 in a manner analogous to its interaction with phospho-Ser2-modified CTD. The same set of hydrogen bonds involving either the oxygen on phospho-Thr4 and the hydroxyl on Ser2, or the phosphate on Ser2 and the Thr4 hydroxyl, can be formed by rotation of an arginine side chain, leaving the intermolecular interface otherwise unperturbed. This economy of design enables Rtt103 to engage Pol II at distinct sets of genes with differentially enriched CTD marks.
Collapse
|
31
|
Kato M, McKnight SL. Cross-β Polymerization of Low Complexity Sequence Domains. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2017; 9:cshperspect.a023598. [PMID: 27836835 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a023598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Most transcription factors and RNA regulatory proteins encoded by eukaryotic genomes ranging from yeast to humans contain polypeptide domains variously described as intrinsically disordered, prion-like, or of low complexity (LC). These LC domains exist in an unfolded state when DNA and RNA regulatory proteins are studied in biochemical isolation from cells. Upon incubation in the purified state, many of these LC domains polymerize into homogeneous, labile amyloid-like fibers. Here, we consider several lines of evidence that may favor biologic utility for LC domain polymers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masato Kato
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9152
| | - Steven L McKnight
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9152
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Abstract
Transcription and splicing are fundamental steps in gene expression. These processes have been studied intensively over the past four decades, and very recent findings are challenging some of the formerly established ideas. In particular, splicing was shown to occur much faster than previously thought, with the first spliced products observed as soon as splice junctions emerge from RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Splicing was also found coupled to a specific phosphorylation pattern of Pol II carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD), suggesting a new layer of complexity in the CTD code. Moreover, phosphorylation of the CTD may be scarcer than expected, and other post-translational modifications of the CTD are emerging with unanticipated roles in gene expression regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noélia Custódio
- a Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa , Lisboa , Portugal
| | - Maria Carmo-Fonseca
- a Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa , Lisboa , Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Sonawane YA, Taylor MA, Napoleon JV, Rana S, Contreras JI, Natarajan A. Cyclin Dependent Kinase 9 Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy. J Med Chem 2016; 59:8667-8684. [PMID: 27171036 PMCID: PMC5636177 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors
have been the topic of intense research for nearly 2 decades due to
their widely varied and critical functions within the cell. Recently
CDK9 has emerged as a druggable target for the development of cancer
therapeutics. CDK9 plays a crucial role in transcription regulation;
specifically, CDK9 mediated transcriptional regulation of short-lived
antiapoptotic proteins is critical for the survival of transformed
cells. Focused chemical libraries based on a plethora of scaffolds
have resulted in mixed success with regard to the development of selective
CDK9 inhibitors. Here we review the regulation of CDK9, its cellular
functions, and common core structures used to target CDK9, along with
their selectivity profile and efficacy in vitro and in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yogesh A Sonawane
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6805, United States
| | - Margaret A Taylor
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6805, United States
| | - John Victor Napoleon
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6805, United States
| | - Sandeep Rana
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6805, United States
| | - Jacob I Contreras
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6805, United States
| | - Amarnath Natarajan
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6805, United States
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Garrido-Lecca A, Saldi T, Blumenthal T. Localization of RNAPII and 3' end formation factor CstF subunits on C. elegans genes and operons. Transcription 2016; 7:96-110. [PMID: 27124504 DOI: 10.1080/21541264.2016.1168509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription termination is mechanistically coupled to pre-mRNA 3' end formation to prevent transcription much beyond the gene 3' end. C. elegans, however, engages in polycistronic transcription of operons in which 3' end formation between genes is not accompanied by termination. We have performed RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and CstF ChIP-seq experiments to investigate at a genome-wide level how RNAPII can transcribe through multiple poly-A signals without causing termination. Our data shows that transcription proceeds in some ways as if operons were composed of multiple adjacent single genes. Total RNAPII shows a small peak at the promoter of the gene cluster and a much larger peak at 3' ends. These 3' peaks coincide with maximal phosphorylation of Ser2 within the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNAPII and maximal localization of the 3' end formation factor CstF. This pattern occurs at all 3' ends including those at internal sites in operons where termination does not occur. Thus the normal mechanism of 3' end formation does not always result in transcription termination. Furthermore, reduction of CstF50 by RNAi did not substantially alter the pattern of CstF64, total RNAPII, or Ser2 phosphorylation at either internal or terminal 3' ends. However, CstF50 RNAi did result in a subtle reduction of CstF64 binding upstream of the site of 3' cleavage, suggesting that the CstF50/CTD interaction may facilitate bringing the 3' end machinery to the transcription complex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Garrido-Lecca
- a Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology , University of Colorado , Boulder , CO , USA
| | - Tassa Saldi
- a Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology , University of Colorado , Boulder , CO , USA
| | - Thomas Blumenthal
- a Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology , University of Colorado , Boulder , CO , USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Abstract
The RNAPII-CTD functions as a binding platform for coordinating the recruitment of transcription associated factors. Altering CTD function results in gene expression defects, although mounting evidence suggests that these effects likely vary among species and loci. Here we highlight emerging evidence of species- and loci-specific functions for the RNAPII-CTD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria J Aristizabal
- a Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada
| | - Michael S Kobor
- a Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Mayfield JE, Burkholder NT, Zhang YJ. Dephosphorylating eukaryotic RNA polymerase II. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2016; 1864:372-87. [PMID: 26779935 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Revised: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The phosphorylation state of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II is required for the temporal and spatial recruitment of various factors that mediate transcription and RNA processing throughout the transcriptional cycle. Therefore, changes in CTD phosphorylation by site-specific kinases/phosphatases are critical for the accurate transmission of information during transcription. Unlike kinases, CTD phosphatases have been traditionally neglected as they are thought to act as passive negative regulators that remove all phosphate marks at the conclusion of transcription. This over-simplified view has been disputed in recent years and new data assert the active and regulatory role phosphatases play in transcription. We now know that CTD phosphatases ensure the proper transition between different stages of transcription, balance the distribution of phosphorylation for accurate termination and re-initiation, and prevent inappropriate expression of certain genes. In this review, we focus on the specific roles of CTD phosphatases in regulating transcription. In particular, we emphasize how specificity and timing of dephosphorylation are achieved for these phosphatases and consider the various regulatory factors that affect these dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua E Mayfield
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Nathaniel T Burkholder
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Yan Jessie Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Aristizabal MJ, Negri GL, Kobor MS. The RNAPII-CTD Maintains Genome Integrity through Inhibition of Retrotransposon Gene Expression and Transposition. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005608. [PMID: 26496706 PMCID: PMC4619828 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) contains a unique C-terminal domain that is composed of heptapeptide repeats and which plays important regulatory roles during gene expression. RNAPII is responsible for the transcription of most protein-coding genes, a subset of non-coding genes, and retrotransposons. Retrotransposon transcription is the first step in their multiplication cycle, given that the RNA intermediate is required for the synthesis of cDNA, the material that is ultimately incorporated into a new genomic location. Retrotransposition can have grave consequences to genome integrity, as integration events can change the gene expression landscape or lead to alteration or loss of genetic information. Given that RNAPII transcribes retrotransposons, we sought to investigate if the RNAPII-CTD played a role in the regulation of retrotransposon gene expression. Importantly, we found that the RNAPII-CTD functioned to maintaining genome integrity through inhibition of retrotransposon gene expression, as reducing CTD length significantly increased expression and transposition rates of Ty1 elements. Mechanistically, the increased Ty1 mRNA levels in the rpb1-CTD11 mutant were partly due to Cdk8-dependent alterations to the RNAPII-CTD phosphorylation status. In addition, Cdk8 alone contributed to Ty1 gene expression regulation by altering the occupancy of the gene-specific transcription factor Ste12. Loss of STE12 and TEC1 suppressed growth phenotypes of the RNAPII-CTD truncation mutant. Collectively, our results implicate Ste12 and Tec1 as general and important contributors to the Cdk8, RNAPII-CTD regulatory circuitry as it relates to the maintenance of genome integrity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria J. Aristizabal
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gian Luca Negri
- Department of Molecular Oncology, BC Cancer Research Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael S. Kobor
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Srivastava R, Ahn SH. Modifications of RNA polymerase II CTD: Connections to the histone code and cellular function. Biotechnol Adv 2015; 33:856-72. [PMID: 26241863 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Revised: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
At the onset of transcription, many protein machineries interpret the cellular signals that regulate gene expression. These complex signals are mostly transmitted to the indispensable primary proteins involved in transcription, RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and histones. RNAPII and histones are so well coordinated in this cellular function that each cellular signal is precisely allocated to specific machinery depending on the stage of transcription. The carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of RNAPII in eukaryotes undergoes extensive posttranslational modification, called the 'CTD code', that is indispensable for coupling transcription with many cellular processes, including mRNA processing. The posttranslational modification of histones, known as the 'histone code', is also critical for gene transcription through the reversible and dynamic remodeling of chromatin structure. Notably, the histone code is closely linked with the CTD code, and their combinatorial effects enable the delicate regulation of gene transcription. This review elucidates recent findings regarding the CTD modifications of RNAPII and their coordination with the histone code, providing integrative pathways for the fine-tuned regulation of gene expression and cellular function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Srivastava
- Division of Molecular and Life Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Hoon Ahn
- Division of Molecular and Life Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Yang C, Hager PW, Stiller JW. The identification of putative RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain associated proteins in red and green algae. Transcription 2014; 5:e970944. [PMID: 25483605 DOI: 10.4161/21541264.2014.970944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A tandemly repeated C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II is functionally essential and strongly conserved in many organisms, including animal, yeast and plant models. Although present in simple, ancestral red algae, CTD tandem repeats have undergone extensive modifications and degeneration during the evolutionary transition to developmentally complex rhodophytes. In contrast, CTD repeats are conserved in both green algae and their more complex land plant relatives. Understanding the mechanistic differences that underlie these variant patterns of CTD evolution requires knowledge of CTD-associated proteins in these 2 lineages. To provide an initial baseline comparison, we bound potential phospho-CTD associated proteins (PCAPs) to artificially synthesized and phosphorylated CTD repeats from the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae and green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Our results indicate that red and green algae share a number of PCAPs, including kinases and proteins involved in mRNA export. There also are important taxon-specific differences, including mRNA splicing-related PCAPs recovered from Chlamydomonas but not Cyanidioschyzon, consistent with the relative intron densities in green and red algae. Our results also offer the first experimental indication that different proteins bind 2 distinct types of repeats in Cyanidioschyzon, suggesting a division of function between the proximal and distal CTD, similar to patterns identified in more developmentally complex model organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunlin Yang
- a Department of Biology ; East Carolina University ; Greenville , NC USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Fukudome A, Aksoy E, Wu X, Kumar K, Jeong IS, May K, Russell WK, Koiwa H. Arabidopsis CPL4 is an essential C-terminal domain phosphatase that suppresses xenobiotic stress responses. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 80:27-39. [PMID: 25041272 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Revised: 06/27/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic gene expression is both promoted and inhibited by the reversible phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II (pol II CTD). More than 20 Arabidopsis genes encode CTD phosphatase homologs, including four CTD phosphatase-like (CPL) family members. Although in vitro CTD phosphatase activity has been established for some CPLs, none have been shown to be involved in the phosphoregulation of pol II in vivo. Here we report that CPL4 is a CTD phosphatase essential for the viability of Arabidopsis thaliana. Mass spectrometry analysis identified the pol II subunits RPB1, RPB2 and RPB3 in the affinity-purified CPL4 complex. CPL4 dephosphorylates both Ser2- and Ser5-PO(4) of the CTD in vitro, with a preference for Ser2-PO(4). Arabidopsis plants overexpressing CPL4 accumulated hypophosphorylated pol II, whereas RNA interference-mediated silencing of CPL4 promoted hyperphosphorylation of pol II. A D128A mutation in the conserved DXDXT motif of the CPL4 catalytic domain resulted in a dominant negative form of CPL4, the overexpression of which inhibited transgene expression in transient assays. Inhibition was abolished by truncation of the phosphoprotein-binding Breast Cancer 1 C-terminal domain of CPL4, suggesting that both catalytic function and protein-protein interaction are essential for CPL4-mediated regulation of gene expression. We were unable to recover a homozygous cpl4 mutant, probably due to the zygotic lethality of this mutation. The reduction in CPL4 levels in CPL4(RNAi) plants increased transcript levels of a suite of herbicide/xenobiotic-responsive genes and improved herbicide tolerance, thus suggesting an additional role for CPL4 as a negative regulator of the xenobiotic detoxification pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akihito Fukudome
- Molecular and Environmental Plant Sciences, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Vegetable and Fruit Development Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Hwang JS, Hwang SY, Han IO. Basal transcription is regulated by lipopolysaccharide and glucosamine via the regulation of DNA binding of RNA polymerase II in RAW264.7 cells. Life Sci 2014; 110:93-8. [PMID: 24968300 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2014.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The objective of this study is to investigate glucosamine (GlcN) as a transcriptional regulator of iNOS and other genes in association with the dynamic O-GlcNAcylation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). MAIN METHODS The LPS- and/or GlcN-stimulated transcriptional activities of various Gal4-binding site/TATA-box-containing reporter constructs were measured. KEY FINDINGS Basal transcriptional activities of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) reporter plasmids are inhibited by GlcN in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, GlcN suppressed whereas lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated the basal activity of Gal4-binding site/TATA-box-containing reporter constructs. LPS reduced the O-linked N-acetylglucosamine modification (O-GlcNAcylation) of RNAPII, but enhanced the binding of this enzyme to the iNOS promoter. In contrast, GlcN enhanced RNAPII O-GlcNAcylation, but inhibited iNOS promoter binding. Furthermore, the basal activities of reporter plasmids containing activator protein 1 (AP1), E2F, or cyclic AMP response element (CRE) binding sites were consistently inhibited by GlcN in a dose-dependent manner. However, GlcN did not inhibit the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate- (PMA-) or forskolin-induced transcriptional activities of AP1 and CRE. The transcriptional activity of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) was slightly increased by both LPS and GlcN. SIGNIFICANCE In conclusion, our data demonstrate that LPS activates, whereas GlcN suppresses, basal activities of transcription through the regulation of RNAPII O-GlcNAcylation and DNA binding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Sun Hwang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - So-Young Hwang
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Inn-Oc Han
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Bentley DL. Coupling mRNA processing with transcription in time and space. Nat Rev Genet 2014; 15:163-75. [PMID: 24514444 DOI: 10.1038/nrg3662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 546] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Maturation of mRNA precursors often occurs simultaneously with their synthesis by RNA polymerase II (Pol II). The co-transcriptional nature of mRNA processing has permitted the evolution of coupling mechanisms that coordinate transcription with mRNA capping, splicing, editing and 3' end formation. Recent experiments using sophisticated new methods for analysis of nascent RNA have provided important insights into the relative amount of co-transcriptional and post-transcriptional processing, the relationship between mRNA elongation and processing, and the role of the Pol II carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) in regulating these processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David L Bentley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS8101, PO BOX 6511, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Kwon I, Kato M, Xiang S, Wu L, Theodoropoulos P, Mirzaei H, Han T, Xie S, Corden JL, McKnight SL. Phosphorylation-regulated binding of RNA polymerase II to fibrous polymers of low-complexity domains. Cell 2014; 155:1049-1060. [PMID: 24267890 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 415] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The low-complexity (LC) domains of the products of the fused in sarcoma (FUS), Ewings sarcoma (EWS), and TAF15 genes are translocated onto a variety of different DNA-binding domains and thereby assist in driving the formation of cancerous cells. In the context of the translocated fusion proteins, these LC sequences function as transcriptional activation domains. Here, we show that polymeric fibers formed from these LC domains directly bind the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II in a manner reversible by phosphorylation of the iterated, heptad repeats of the CTD. Mutational analysis indicates that the degree of binding between the CTD and the LC domain polymers correlates with the strength of transcriptional activation. These studies offer a simple means of conceptualizing how RNA polymerase II is recruited to active genes in its unphosphorylated state and released for elongation following phosphorylation of the CTD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilmin Kwon
- Department of Biochemistry University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard Dallas, TX 75390-9152
| | - Masato Kato
- Department of Biochemistry University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard Dallas, TX 75390-9152
| | - Siheng Xiang
- Department of Biochemistry University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard Dallas, TX 75390-9152
| | - Leeju Wu
- Department of Biochemistry University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard Dallas, TX 75390-9152
| | - Pano Theodoropoulos
- Department of Biochemistry University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard Dallas, TX 75390-9152
| | - Hamid Mirzaei
- Department of Biochemistry University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard Dallas, TX 75390-9152
| | - Tina Han
- Department of Biochemistry University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard Dallas, TX 75390-9152
| | - Shanhai Xie
- Department of Biochemistry University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard Dallas, TX 75390-9152
| | - Jeffry L Corden
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Steven L McKnight
- Department of Biochemistry University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard Dallas, TX 75390-9152
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Cross-talk of phosphorylation and prolyl isomerization of the C-terminal domain of RNA Polymerase II. Molecules 2014; 19:1481-511. [PMID: 24473209 PMCID: PMC4350670 DOI: 10.3390/molecules19021481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2013] [Revised: 01/06/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-translational modifications of the heptad repeat sequences in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) are well recognized for their roles in coordinating transcription with other nuclear processes that impinge upon transcription by the Pol II machinery; and this is primarily achieved through CTD interactions with the various nuclear factors. The identification of novel modifications on new regulatory sites of the CTD suggests that, instead of an independent action for all modifications on CTD, a combinatorial effect is in operation. In this review we focus on two well-characterized modifications of the CTD, namely serine phosphorylation and prolyl isomerization, and discuss the complex interplay between the enzymes modifying their respective regulatory sites. We summarize the current understanding of how the prolyl isomerization state of the CTD dictates the specificity of writers (CTD kinases), erasers (CTD phosphatases) and readers (CTD binding proteins) and how that correlates to transcription status. Subtle changes in prolyl isomerization states cannot be detected at the primary sequence level, we describe the methods that have been utilized to investigate this mode of regulation. Finally, a general model of how prolyl isomerization regulates the phosphorylation state of CTD, and therefore transcription-coupled processes, is proposed.
Collapse
|
45
|
Corden JL. RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain: Tethering transcription to transcript and template. Chem Rev 2013; 113:8423-55. [PMID: 24040939 PMCID: PMC3988834 DOI: 10.1021/cr400158h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffry L Corden
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , 725 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore Maryland 21205, United States
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Aristizabal MJ, Negri GL, Benschop JJ, Holstege FCP, Krogan NJ, Kobor MS. High-throughput genetic and gene expression analysis of the RNAPII-CTD reveals unexpected connections to SRB10/CDK8. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003758. [PMID: 24009531 PMCID: PMC3757075 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is composed of heptapeptide repeats, which play a key regulatory role in gene expression. Using genetic interaction, chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by microarrays (ChIP-on-chip) and mRNA expression analysis, we found that truncating the CTD resulted in distinct changes to cellular function. Truncating the CTD altered RNAPII occupancy, leading to not only decreases, but also increases in mRNA levels. The latter were largely mediated by promoter elements and in part were linked to the transcription factor Rpn4. The mediator subunit Cdk8 was enriched at promoters of these genes, and its removal not only restored normal mRNA and RNAPII occupancy levels, but also reduced the abnormally high cellular amounts of Rpn4. This suggested a positive role of Cdk8 in relationship to RNAPII, which contrasted with the observed negative role at the activated INO1 gene. Here, loss of CDK8 suppressed the reduced mRNA expression and RNAPII occupancy levels of CTD truncation mutants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria J. Aristizabal
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gian Luca Negri
- School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Joris J. Benschop
- Molecular Cancer Research, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Frank C. P. Holstege
- Molecular Cancer Research, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Nevan J. Krogan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Michael S. Kobor
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Eick
- Department of Molecular Epigenetics, Helmholtz Center Munich and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM), Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377 Munich,
Germany
| | - Matthias Geyer
- Center of Advanced European Studies and Research, Group Physical Biochemistry,
Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Jeronimo C, Bataille AR, Robert F. The Writers, Readers, and Functions of the RNA Polymerase II C-Terminal Domain Code. Chem Rev 2013; 113:8491-522. [DOI: 10.1021/cr4001397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Célia Jeronimo
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, Québec,
Canada H2W 1R7
| | - Alain R. Bataille
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, Québec,
Canada H2W 1R7
| | - François Robert
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, Québec,
Canada H2W 1R7
- Département
de Médecine,
Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec,
Canada H3T 1J4
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Darnell JE. Reflections on the history of pre-mRNA processing and highlights of current knowledge: a unified picture. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2013; 19:443-60. [PMID: 23440351 PMCID: PMC3677254 DOI: 10.1261/rna.038596.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Several strong conclusions emerge concerning pre-mRNA processing from both old and newer experiments. The RNAPII complex is involved with pre-mRNA processing through binding of processing proteins to the CTD (carboxyl terminal domain) of the largest RNAPII subunit. These interactions are necessary for efficient processing, but whether factor binding to the CTD and delivery to splicing sites is obligatory or facilitatory is unsettled. Capping, addition of an m(7)Gppp residue (cap) to the initial transcribed residue of a pre-mRNA, occurs within seconds. Splicing of pre-mRNA by spliceosomes at particular sites is most likely committed during transcription by the binding of initiating processing factors and ∼50% of the time is completed in mammalian cells before completion of the primary transcript. This fact has led to an outpouring in the literature about "cotranscriptional splicing." However splicing requires several minutes for completion and can take longer. The RNAPII complex moves through very long introns and also through regions dense with alternating exons and introns at an average rate of ∼3 kb per min and is, therefore, not likely detained at each splice site for more than a few seconds, if at all. Cleavage of the primary transcript at the 3' end and polyadenylation occurs within 30 sec or less at recognized polyA sites, and the majority of newly polyadenylated pre-mRNA molecules are much larger than the average mRNA. Finally, it seems quite likely that the nascent RNA most often remains associated with the chromosomal locus being transcribed until processing is complete, possibly acquiring factors related to the transport of the new mRNA to the cytoplasm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James E Darnell
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Vidyalakshmi S, Ramamurthy V. Phosphoserines of the carboxy terminal domain of RNA polymerase II are involved in the interaction with transcription-associated proteins (TAPs). OMICS : A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2013; 17:130-135. [PMID: 23421907 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2012.0081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Generation of productive transcripts of protein coding genes in eukaryotes is a complex, multistep process centrally controlled by the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) complex. The carboxy terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of the enzyme is designed to be modified by differential phosphorylation, and plays a key role in orchestrating the multiple events of the process by interacting with a host of transcription-associated proteins (TAPs) at different stages. We analyzed, in silico, the role of serine phosphorylation of CTD in relation to molecular interaction between different TAPs and a representative part of the CTD repeat structure. Using molecular docking, we investigated eight different proteins involved in capping, elongation, splicing, 3' end cleavage, or polyadenylation functions during the transcription process. Among the different phosphorylated forms of CTD, the form found to have the most affinity for a particular protein was also the form that is predominant during that process, the only exception being the equally high affinity of S2PCTD to Spt4, although S5PCTD is the known active form during elongation. The unique phosphoserine of the CTD forms associated with the TAPs was an important participant in the association between both the molecules. These studies have also identified other residues of TAPs interacting with CTD which in previous studies have not been recognized as being functionally significant. These findings add to an emerging body of literature on the regulatory aspects of genomics and proteomics and thus, might catalyze future applications for discovery and translational omics science.
Collapse
|