Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Chibazakura

Publications and source records attributed to T Chibazakura.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Phosphorylation of human general transcription factors TATA-binding protein and transcription factor IIB by DNA-dependent protein kinase--synergistic stimulation of RNA polymerase II basal transcription in vitro.

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) has been known to catalyze phosphorylation of a number of regulatory factors involved in DNA replication and transcription such as simian virus 40 T antigen, p53, c-Myc, Sp1, and RNA polymerase II (Pol II). We examined the possibility that DNA-PK phosphorylates the general transcription factors TATA-binding protein (TBP) and transcription factor (TF) IIB, which play key roles in the formation of transcription initiation complex with Pol II. By using a highly purified preparation of DNA-PK from Raji cells, both TBP and TFIIB were shown to be phosphorylated in vitro by DNA-PK. We then investigated the effect of the phosphorylation of these factors on Pol II basal transcription. Stepwise analysis of preinitiation complex formation by electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that the phosphorylation of TBP and TFIIB by DNA-PK did not affect the formation of promoter (P)-TBP and P-TBP-TFIIB complexes but synergistically stimulated the formation of P-TBP-TFIIB-TFIIF-Pol II complex. Similarly, combination of the phosphorylated TBP and TFIIB synergistically stimulated Pol II basal transcription from adenovirus major late promoter. These observations suggest that DNA-PK could positively regulate the Pol II basal transcription by phosphorylating TBP and TFIIB.

DNA-Activated Protein Kinase↗

Cell cycle-dependent regulation of RNA polymerase II basal transcription activity.

Regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II (pol II) in eukaryotic cells requires both basal and regulatory transcription factors. In this report we have investigated in vitro pol II basal transcription activity during the cell cycle by using nuclear extracts from synchronized HeLa cells. It is shown that pol II basal transcription activity is low in the S and G2 phases and high in early G1 phase and TFIID is the rate limiting component of pol II basal transcription activity during the cell cycle. Further analyses reveal that TFIID exists as a less active form in the S and G2 phases and nuclear extracts from S and G2 phase cells contain a heat-sensitive repressor(s) of TATA box binding protein (TBP). These results suggest that pol II basal transcription activity is regulated by a qualitative change in the TFIID complex, which could involve repression of TBP, during the cell cycle.

Cell Cycle↗

Effects of spo0 mutations on spo0A promoter switching at the initiation of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.

Transcriptional analyses of the Bacillus subtilis sporulation initiator gene spo0A revealed that promoter switching from the vegetative (Pv) to the sporulation-specific (Ps) promoter did not occur in the spo0A, spo0B, spo0E, spo0F, and spo0H mutants. The sof-1 mutation in spo0A restored the promoter switching in the spo0F mutant. These results strongly suggest that Spo0A plays a central role in the regulation of its own promoter switching.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Regulation of the human general transcription initiation factor TFIIF by phosphorylation.

The transcription initiation factor, TFIIF, is essential not only for the initiation of transcription but also for efficient elongation of mRNA synthesis by mammalian RNA polymerase II and is extensively phosphorylated in vivo. The possible regulation of TFIIF activity by protein phosphorylation was investigated by comparing the biochemical properties of alkaline phosphatase-treated HeLa TFIIF with those of native or bacterially expressed factor. Alkaline phosphatase treatment decreased the size of the large subunit (RAP74) of TFIIF to that of the recombinant protein but did not change the size of the small subunit (RAP30). Both the transcription initiation and elongation stimulating activities of the alkaline phosphatase-treated TFIIF decreased to 15-20% of the native form under conditions in which the amount of TFIIF was rate-limiting for transcription. Furthermore, phosphatase-treated TFIIF assembled the DBPolF complex and bound to RNA polymerase II less efficiently than the native protein. When hybrid TFIIFs were reconstituted using native or recombinant subunits, a native form of RAP74 stimulated both transcription and DBPolF complex formation activity regardless of whether native or recombinant RAP30 was used. We propose that TFIIF activity is regulated by protein phosphorylation, particularly of the RAP74 subunit. The functional role of RAP74 in assembling the preinitiation complex and modulating TFIIF activity is discussed.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Enhancement of bacterial transcription initiation in vitro by the 74 kDa subunit of human general transcription factor IIF (RAP74).

The human general transcription factor IIF (TFIIF) is required for an accurate transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II and shares some analogous features with the sigma subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase. As an attempt to analyze the function of TFIIF, we examined its effect on bacterial transcription in vitro. TFIIF significantly enhanced the initiation of transcription by the bacterial RNA polymerase while other general transcription factors, TATA-binding protein, TFIIB, and TFIIE, did not. The enhancement of the bacterial transcription was ascribed to the 74 kDa subunit of TFIIF (RAP74). RAP74 had an activity of enhancing the binding of the bacterial RNA polymerase to the promoter. The enhancing activity of RAP74 depended on a low molar ratio of the RNA polymerase to the template DNA. The action of RAP74 in the bacterial transcription may be related to a possible regulatory role of RAP74 in the eukaryotic transcription initiation.

Base Sequence↗

Molecular analysis of POP2 gene, a gene required for glucose-derepression of gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have isolated a new mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that exhibits a glucose-derepression resistant (and sucrose-non-fermentor) phenotype. This mutant was obtained by screening for overproduction of alpha-amylase in a strain containing the mouse alpha-amylase gene under the control of the PGK promoter. The mutation designated pop2 (PGK promoter directed over production). The pop2 mutant overproduced amylase 5-6 fold and displayed several other pleiotropic defects: (1) resistance to glucose derepression, (2) temperature-sensitive growth, (3) failure of homozygous diploid cells to sporulate and (4) reduced amount of reserve carbohydrates. We mapped pop2 to chromosome XIV, distal to lys9 and SUP28, indicating that POP2 is a newly-identified locus. We isolated the POP2 gene from two yeast strains of different genetic backgrounds, S288C and A364A, and determined their nucleotide sequences. The predicted amino acid sequence of the POP2 protein contains three glutamine-rich region, a proline-rich region and a serine/threonine-rich region, characteristic of many transcription factors. Steady state levels of RNA transcribed from the PGK-amylase fusion gene and from endogenous PGK gene in stationary-phase pop2 cells were 5- to 10-fold higher than those observed in wild-type cells, showing that the pop2 mutation affects transcription of the PGK gene transcription.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential regulation of spo0A transcription in Bacillus subtilis: glucose represses promoter switching at the initiation of sporulation.

We have shown by S1 nuclease mapping with in vivo transcripts that the differential expression of a sporulation-regulatory gene, spo0A, is regulated by switching of two discrete promoters during the initiation of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis; vegetative mRNA was transcribed from an upstream promoter (Pv, vegetative promoter), and sporulation-specific mRNA was transcribed from the other promoter (Ps, sporulation-specific promoter) about 150 bp downstream of the Pv promoter. Transcription from the Pv promoter was at a low level and shut off at T0.5. On the other hand, transcription from the Ps promoter was strongly induced at T0.5 and increased until T2.5. In the presence of 2% glucose, Pv-directed transcription was not shut off and was observed even at T1.5, whereas the induction of Ps-directed transcription was completely repressed. A mutant in which the spo0A gene was transcribed only from the Ps promoter could sporulate normally in the presence of 0.1% glucose but could not sporulate at all in the presence of 2% glucose. In a catabolite-resistant sporulation mutant carrying crsA47 (sigA47), a mutation within the gene encoding sigma A, normal promoter switching from Pv to Ps was observed in the presence of 2% glucose.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Structure and molecular analysis of RGR1, a gene required for glucose repression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

An RGR1 gene product is required to repress expression of glucose-regulated genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The abnormal morphology of rgr1 cells was studied. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic observations revealed that the cell wall of the daughter cell remained attached to that of mother cell. We cloned the RGR1 gene by complementation and showed that the cloned DNA was tightly linked to the chromosomal RGR1 locus. The cloned RGR1 gene suppressed all of the phenotypes caused by the mutation and encoded a 3.6-kilobase poly(A)+ RNA. The RGR1 gene is located on chromosome XII, as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and we mapped rgr1 between gal2 and pep3 by genetic analysis. rgr1 was shown to be a new locus. We also determined the nucleotide sequence of RGR1, which was predicted to encode a 123-kilodalton protein. The null mutation resulted in lethality, indicating that the RGR1 gene is essential for growth. On the other hand, a carboxy-terminal deletion of the gene caused phenotypes similar to but more severe than those caused by the original mutation. The amount of reserve carbohydrates was reduced in rgr1 cells. Possible functions of the RGR1 product are discussed.

Alleles↗

Revised assignment for the Bacillus subtilis spo0F gene and its homology with spo0A and with two Escherichia coli genes.

The nucleotide sequences of spo0F mutant genes which block the early sporulation process of Bacillus subtilis were determined. The mutation sites together with the results of complementation tests suggested that an open reading frame for a polypeptide of Mr = 14,229 is the spo0F gene. The deduced amino acid sequence shows striking homology with that of the spo0A gene. In addition, the upstream region involving the rib some binding site of the spo0F coding region is also similar to those of spo0A and spo0B. These homologies suggest that all three genes have a similar function in regulating the initiation of sporulation, and that their expression is controlled by a common mechanism. Clear homology is also seen between the spo0 gene products and the transcriptional control proteins, OmpR and Dye, of Escherichia coli suggesting that the spo0 gene products also are involved in the control of transcription.

Alleles↗