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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Specificity factor of yeast mitochondrial RNA polymerase. Purification and interaction with core RNA polymerase.

We have identified a mitochondrial protein from Saccharomyces cerevisiae which confers the ability to recognize mitochondrial promoters onto a nonspecifically transcribing mitochondrial core RNA polymerase and we have purified this specificity factor 10,700-fold from a whole cell extract. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified fraction followed by elution and renaturation of protein activity shows that the specificity factor is a 43-kDa polypeptide which directs mitochondrial core RNA polymerase to promoters belonging to rRNA-, tRNA-, and protein-encoding genes, as well as to mitochondrial replication origins. Gel filtration and glycerol gradient sedimentation studies indicate that the specificity factor shows little association with core RNA polymerase in the absence of DNA, and that it behaves like a monomeric 43-kDa protein.

Chromatography, Gel↗
PubMed1989

Inhibition of in vivo and in vitro transcription by monoclonal antibodies prepared against wheat germ RNA polymerase II that react with the heptapeptide repeat of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II.

Wheat germ RNA polymerase II was used to raise monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that cross-react with the largest subunit of calf thymus RNA polymerase II. Most of these mAbs were of the IgM isotype and were shown to react with a synthetic peptide containing the consensus sequence for the C-terminal heptapeptide repeat that has been found on the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II from a variety of eukaryotic organisms. A representative mAb (3WG2) was tested for its effect on transcription in both in vitro and in vivo systems. Antibody 3WG2 did not affect the transcription (elongation) of wheat germ RNA polymerase II on denatured calf thymus DNA. When HeLa cell nuclear extracts were preincubated with the mAb, run-off transcription from a promoter that contains a TATA box (the adenovirus-2 major late promoter) and from a promoter that does not contain a TATA box (the murine dihydrofolate reductase gene promoter = dhfr) was inhibited. Transcription from these promoters was also inhibited by the synthetic peptide containing the consensus sequence when it was conjugated to bovine serum albumin. HeLa cell nuclear extract in which the endogenous RNA polymerase II had been inhibited by the specific mAb was used to examine the ability of added mammalian RNA polymerase II that lacks the C-terminal domain to accurately transcribe specific genes. When calf thymus RNA polymerase II that lacked the C-terminal domain was added back to the inhibited extract, a discrete transcript that was initiated correctly was obtained with the adenovirus-2 major late promoter; however, no discrete transcript was observed from the mouse dhfr gene promoter. When injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes, antibody 3WG2 inhibited transcription of the human histone H2b gene (contains a TATA box) and the human U1 small nuclear RNA gene (does not contain a TATA box), but did not inhibit transcription from RNA polymerase I or RNA polymerase III promoters. These results indicate that the C-terminal heptapeptide repeat plays a critical role in promoter-directed transcription, although enzyme that lacks this domain can initiate from some promoters in vitro.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1989

The linear mitochondrial plasmid pClK1 of the phytopathogenic fungus Claviceps purpurea may code for a DNA polymerase and an RNA polymerase.

Plasmid pClK1, a linear mitochondrial plasmid of Claviceps purpurea, was completely sequenced. The sequence contains two long open reading frames (ORF1, 3291 bp; ORF2, 2910 bp), and at least four smaller ORFs. The potential polypeptide derived from ORF1 shows homology to the family B type DNA polymerases. The product of ORF2 has significant homology to the mitochondrial RNA polymerase of yeast and RNA polymerases from bacteriophages. ORF1 and ORF2 show homology to URF3 and URF1 of the maize plasmids S1 and S2, respectively. No homology to any published protein sequence was found for the smaller ORFs. The origin of the terminal protein attached to the 5' ends of pClK1 remains open; several alternatives for its origin are discussed. The sequence data as a whole confirm the virus-like character of pClK1 already postulated from structural properties. Thus pClK1 together with S plasmids of maize and several other linear plasmids make up a distinct class of DNA species of plants and fungi probably derived from a common virus-like ancestor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

Regulation of RNA polymerase I by phosphorylation and production of anti-RNA polymerase I antibodies in rheumatic autoimmune diseases.

Relative to resting liver, Morris hepatomas with different growth rates (3924A, 5123D, 7800, and 7777) all had higher (two to eightfold) levels (activity/gm tissue) of RNA polymerase I. Only the most rapidly growing tumor (hepatoma 3924A) showed a substantial increase (fivefold) in RNA polymerase III activity. RNA polymerase II activity/gm tissue in the hepatomas was similar to that in resting liver. The elevation in the hepatoma RNA polymerase I activity resulted from both an increase in the number of transcriptionally active enzyme molecules and an increase in the specific activity of the enzyme as a result of phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of RNA polymerase I from Morris hepatoma 3924A could be catalyzed either by an endogenous protein kinase or by a highly purified preparation of NII protein kinase from the same tumor. Three out of eight polypeptides (Mr 120,000, 65,000, and 25,000) or RNA polymerase I were phosphorylated. Phosphorylation resulted in enhanced RNA synthesis at the level of chain elongation. Another nuclear protein kinase, NI, had no significant effect on RNA polymerase I. The activity and/or amount of the NII protein kinase was significantly reduced in resting liver, which correlated with decreased specific activity of the liver RNA polymerase I. Anti-RNA polymerase I antibodies were found in the sera of patients with rheumatic autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sera from these patients were capable of specifically inhibiting RNA polymerase I activity in vitro. Antibodies were produced predominantly against three of the polypeptides--S3 (Mr 65,000), S4 (Mr 42,000), and S5 (Mr 25,000) of RNA polymerase I. The spectrum and proportion of the antibodies against these three subunits differ with each patient and with the type of the autoimmune disease. These observations indicate that (1) the NII kinase can regulate RNA polymerase I activity, (2) protein kinase NII is associated with the polymerase I enzyme complex, and (3) certain polypeptides of this enzyme complex may be the target antigens in rheumatic autoimmune disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A Drosophila anti-RNA polymerase II antibody recognizes a plant nucleolar antigen, RNA polymerase I, which is mostly localized in fibrillar centres.

The distribution of nucleolar RNA polymerase in the nucleolus of onion root meristematic cells has been studied by means of an antibody originally raised against Drosophila RNA polymerase II. This antibody recognizes the homologous domains of the large subunit of the enzyme, which are highly conserved throughout evolution in the three classes of eucaryotic RNA polymerases. Given that RNA polymerase I is confined to the nucleolus, and that the onion cell nucleolus lacks digitations of extranucleolar chromatin, we conclude that the nucleolar enzyme localized is RNA polymerase I. A quantitative approach, independent of the existence of borderlines between nucleolar fibrillar centres and the dense fibrillar component, allowed us to show that the enzyme is localized in fibrillar centres and in the transition area between them and the dense fibrillar component, in parallel with the nucleolar DNA. These results, together with previous autoradiographic, cytochemical and immunocytochemical results, in this and other species, lead us to conclude that the activation of rDNA for transcription occurs in the fibrillar centres and pre-rRNA synthesis is expressed at the transition area between fibrillar centres and the dense fibrillar component. Fibrillar centres are connected to each other by extended RNA polymerase-bound DNA fibres, presumably active in transcription. This work provides evidence of the high evolutionary conservation of some domains of the large subunit of RNA polymerases and of the existence of fibrillar centres in the nucleolus of plant cells, totally homologous to those described in mammalian cells.

Allium↗
PubMed1977

RNA synthesized in vitro by calf thymus RNA polymerase III (C), as well as by E. coli RNA polymerase, is restricted to a subset of calf thymus DNA.

RNA synthesized in vitro from chromatin and DNA by calf thymus RNA polymerase III was evaluated by hybridization in vast DNA excess. The RNA contains RNA complementary to both moderately repeated and unique DNA sequences. Very highly repeated DNA is not transcribed. A greater portion of RNA transcribed from DNA by RNA polymerase III hybridizes to moderately repeated DNA than RNA transcribed by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. In studies utilizing DNA absorbed to filters, RNA transcribed from chromatin in short incubations hybridized to a greater extent than RNA transcribed for longer times. Similar results were obtained with RNA transcribed from DNA by E. coli RNA polymerase. These results suggest: 1) RNA polymerase III may be responsible for the synthesis of RNA species in addition to tRNA and 5 S ribosomal RNA and a portion of this RNA is transcribed from unique DNA; and 2) in vitro there may be selectivity in the initiation of transcription by both E. coli RNA polymerase and calf thymus RNA polymerase III.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Protein kinase NII. Interaction with RNA polymerase II and contribution to immunological cross-reactivity of RNA polymerases I and II.

The interaction between antibodies directed against RNA polymerase I purified from Morris hepatoma 3924A and homologous RNA polymerase II was investigated. The activity of partially purified polymerase II was inhibited by the antibodies. In contrast, the reaction catalyzed by the purified enzyme was not affected. Partially purified polymerase II preparations contained a protein kinase activity. Sucrose gradient centrifugation in the presence of 0.3 M KCl resulted in complete separation of RNA polymerase II from protein kinase as well as in complete loss of sensitivity to the anti-RNA polymerase I antibodies. The protein kinase possessed reaction characteristics similar to those of the NII protein kinase (Rose, K.M., Bell, L.E., Siefken, D.A. and Jacob, S.T. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 7468-7477) which is associated with hepatoma RNA polymerase I (Rose, K.M., Stetler, D.A. and Jacob, S.T. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 2833-2837). The activities of both kinases were inhibited to the same extent by anti-RNA polymerase I antibodies and polypeptides of Mr 42 000 and 25 000, present in both kinase preparations, formed immune complexes with the antisera. Readdition of protein kinase NII to purified polymerase II resulted in phosphorylation of the polymerase and a concomitant enhancement of RNA synthesis. After addition of the kinase, RNA polymerase II activity was again sensitive to anti-RNA polymerase I antibodies. Upon reacting with protein kinase NII, RNA polymerase II polypeptides could be detected in immune complexes with anti-RNA polymerase I antibodies. These data indicate that protein kinase NII is associated with RNA polymerase II during early stages of purification and is at least partially responsible for the immunological cross-reactivity of RNA polymerases I and II.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

A basal promoter element recognized by free RNA polymerase sigma subunit determines promoter recognition by RNA polymerase holoenzyme.

During transcription initiation by bacterial RNA polymerase, the sigma subunit recognizes the -35 and -10 promoter elements; free sigma, however, does not bind DNA. We selected ssDNA aptamers that strongly and specifically bound free sigma(A) from Thermus aquaticus. A consensus sequence, GTA(C/T)AATGGGA, was required for aptamer binding to sigma(A), with the TA(C/T)AAT segment making interactions similar to those made by the -10 promoter element (consensus sequence TATAAT) in the context of RNA polymerase holoenzyme. When in dsDNA form, the aptamers function as strong promoters for the T. aquaticus RNA polymerase sigma(A) holoenzyme. Recognition of the aptamer-based promoters depends on the downstream GGGA motif from the aptamers' common sequence, which is contacted by sigma(A) region 1.2 and directs transcription initiation even in the absence of the -35 promoter element. Thus, recognition of bacterial promoters is controlled by independent interactions of sigma with multiple basal promoter elements.

Aptamers, Nucleotide↗
PubMed2006

Ancient origin, functional conservation and fast evolution of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase III.

RNA polymerase III contains seventeen subunits in yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe) and in human cells. Twelve of them are akin to the core RNA polymerase I or II. The five other are RNA polymerase III-specific and form the functionally distinct groups Rpc31-Rpc34-Rpc82 and Rpc37-Rpc53. Currently sequenced eukaryotic genomes revealed significant homology to these seventeen subunits in Fungi, Animals, Plants and Amoebozoans. Except for subunit Rpc31, this also extended to the much more distantly related genomes of Alveolates and Excavates, indicating that the complex subunit organization of RNA polymerase III emerged at a very early stage of eukaryotic evolution. The Sch.pombe subunits were expressed in S.cerevisiae null mutants and tested for growth. Ten core subunits showed heterospecific complementation, but the two largest catalytic subunits (Rpc1 and Rpc2) and all five RNA polymerase III-specific subunits (Rpc82, Rpc53, Rpc37, Rpc34 and Rpc31) were non-functional. Three highly conserved RNA polymerase III-specific domains were found in the twelve-subunit core structure. They correspond to the Rpc17-Rpc25 dimer, involved in transcription initiation, to an N-terminal domain of the largest subunit Rpc1 important to anchor Rpc31, Rpc34 and Rpc82, and to a C-terminal domain of Rpc1 that presumably holds Rpc37, Rpc53 and their Rpc11 partner.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Characteristics of the cDNA of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe rpa43+ gene: structural similarity of the Rpa43 subunit of RNA-polymerase I with the Rpc25 subunit of RNA-polymerase III].

We isolated and characterized full-length cDNA of the rpa43+ gene encoding one of subunits of the nuclear RNA polymerase I of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The gene contains two introns and is located on chromosome II. Comparison of the primary structure of the subunit Rpa43 of Sz. pombe (173 aa; M 19,385 Da; pl 5.36), deduced from the cDNA obtained, with the amino acid sequences of subunits A43 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Drosophila melanogaster demonstrates a high divergence of this protein in evolution. A comparison of the Rpa43 with other proteins from the SwissProt database revealed a similarity of this subunit to subunit Rpc25 of RNA polymerase III, which, as was shown previously, is structurally similar to subunit Rpb7 of RNA polymerase II. Thus, including the Rpa43<-->Rpc25<-->Rpb7 family, nuclear RNA polymerases I-III contain at least 11 identical and/or similar subunits. This fact illustrates a pronounced resemblance of the organization of all three enzymes of the eukaryotic transcription apparatus. Moreover, at least ten out of these eleven families of eukaryotic RNA polymerase subunits have homologues in the 13-subunit archaeal RNA polymerase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effect of glucocorticoid hormones on nuclear RNA-polymerase activity and RNA metabolizability in rat skeletal muscles].

It has been found that in hypercorticism induced by a prolonged ACTH administration when protein synthesis is inhibited in the skeletal muscles the incorporation of Na2HP32O4 into muscle RNA intensifies by 30% and the RNA-polymerase activity of muscle nuclei is approximately twice as high. In the adrenalectomized rats 3 hours after a single hydrocortisone administration a sharp rise in the RNA-polymerase activity of the skeletal muscle nuclei is observed as well. Such an increase in RNA synthesis is suggested to be a response to the inhibition of protein synthesis through feedback mechanisms.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1993

Identification of autoantibodies to RNA polymerase II. Occurrence in systemic sclerosis and association with autoantibodies to RNA polymerases I and III.

In this study, autoantibodies to RNA polymerase II from sera of patients with systemic sclerosis have been identified and characterized. These antibodies immunoprecipitated polypeptides of 220 kD (IIA) and 145 kD (IIC), the two largest subunits of RNA polymerase II, and bound both subunits in immunoblots. These polypeptides were immunoprecipitated by the anti-RNA polymerase II monoclonal antibody 8WG16, which recognizes the carboxyl-terminal domain of the 220-kD subunit, and their identity to the proteins bound by human sera was confirmed in immunodepletion studies. Sera with anti-RNA polymerase II antibodies also immunoprecipitated proteins that were consistent with components of RNA polymerases I and III. In vitro transcription experiments showed that the human antibodies were an effective inhibitor of RNA polymerase II activity. In indirect immunofluorescence studies, anti-RNA polymerase II autoantibodies stained the nucleoplasm, as expected from the known location of RNA polymerase II, and colocalized with the anti-RNA polymerase II monoclonal antibody. The human sera also stained the nucleolus, the location of RNA polymerase I. From a clinical perspective, these antibodies were found in 13 of 278 patients with systemic sclerosis, including 10 with diffuse and three with limited cutaneous disease, but were not detected in sera from patients with other connective tissue diseases and from normal controls. We conclude that anti-RNA polymerase II antibodies are specific to patients with systemic sclerosis, and that they are apparently associated with antibodies to RNA polymerases I and III. These autoantibodies may be useful diagnostically and as a probe for further studies of the biological function of RNA polymerases.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2004

Effect of metal ion binding on the structural stability of the hepatitis C virus RNA polymerase.

The RNA polymerase activity of the hepatitis C virus, a major human pathogen, has previously been shown to be supported by metal ions. In the present study, we report a systematic analysis of the effect of metal ion binding on the structural stability of the hepatitis C virus RNA polymerase. Chemical and thermal denaturation assays revealed that the stability of the protein is increased significantly in the presence of metal ions. Structural analyses clearly established that metal ion binding increases hydrophobic exposure on the RNA polymerase surface. Furthermore, our denaturation studies, coupled with polymerization assays, demonstrate that the active site region of the polymerase is more sensitive to chemical denaturant than other structural scaffolds. We also report the first detailed study of the thermodynamic parameters involved in the interaction between the hepatitis C virus RNA polymerase and metal ions. Finally, a mutational analysis was also performed to investigate the importance of Asp(220), Asp(318), and Asp(319) for metal ion binding. This mutational study underscores a strict requirement for each of the residues for metal binding, indicating that the active center of the HCV RNA polymerase is intolerant to virtually any perturbations of the metal coordination sphere, thereby highlighting the critical role of the enzyme-bound metal ions. Overall, our results indicate that metal ions play a dual modulatory role in the RNA polymerase reaction by promoting both a favorable geometry of the active site for catalysis and by increasing the structural stability of the enzyme.

Alanine↗
PubMed1988

RNA polymerase III promoter elements enhance transcription of RNA polymerase II genes.

Using transient expression assays in cultured human cells we have observed that RNA Polymerase III promoter sequences exert a positive cis-acting enhancer effect on RNA Polymerase II transcription. A DNA segment containing a copy of the Alu repeated element enhances transcription of the liver specific Haptoglobin related (Hpr) promoter in Hepatoma cell lines but not in HeLa cells. A tRNA(pro) gene acts as enhancer of the SV40 promoter both in Hepatoma and in HeLa cell lines. Transcription from the SV40 promoter is also enhanced by DNA segments containing only the box A or the box B of the tRNA(pro) promoter.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗