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Structure of the tau60/Delta tau91 subcomplex of yeast transcription factor IIIC: insights into preinitiation complex assembly.

Yeast RNA polymerase III is recruited upon binding of subcomplexes tauA and tauB of transcription factor IIIC (TFIIIC) to the A and B blocks of tRNA gene promoters. The tauB subcomplex consists of subunits tau60, tau91, and tau138. We determined the 3.2 A crystal structure of tau60 bound to a large C-terminal fragment of tau91 (Deltatau91). Deltatau91 protein contains a seven-bladed propeller preceded by an N-terminal extension, whereas tau60 contains a structurally homologous propeller followed by a C-terminal domain with a novel alpha/beta fold. The two propeller domains do not have any detectable DNA binding activity and mediate heterodimer formation that may serve as scaffold for tau138 assembly. We show that the C-terminal tau60 domain interacts with the TATA binding protein (TBP). Recombinant tauB recruits TBP and stimulates TFIIIB-directed transcription on a TATA box containing tRNA gene, implying a combined contribution of tauA and tauB to preinitiation complex formation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A gene-specific effect of an internal deletion in the Bdp1 subunit of the RNA polymerase III transcription initiation factor TFIIIB.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae RPR1 gene encodes the RNA subunit of its RNase P, which processes RNA polymerase (pol) III primary transcripts. RPR1, which is transcribed by pol III, has been isolated as a multicopy suppressor of a specific small internal deletion (amino acids 253-269) in the Bdp1 subunit of transcription factor TFIIIB, the core pol III transcription factor. The selective effect of this Bdp1 deletion on RPR1 transcription has been analyzed in vitro. It is shown that TFIIIC-dependent assembly of TFIIIB on the RPR1 promoter is specifically sensitive to this Bdp1 deletion, leading to gene-specifically defective single-round and multiple-round transcription.

Base Sequence↗

Death effector domain-containing proteins DEDD and FLAME-3 form nuclear complexes with the TFIIIC102 subunit of human transcription factor IIIC.

Death effector domain-containing proteins are involved in important cellular processes such as death-receptor induced apoptosis, NF-kappaB activation and ERK activation. Here we report the identification of a novel nuclear DED-containing protein, FLAME-3. FLAME-3 shares significant sequence (46.6% identical) and structural homology to another DED-containing protein, DEDD. FLAME-3 interacts with DEDD and c-FLIP (FLAME-1) but not with the other DED-containing proteins FADD, caspase-8 or caspase-10. FLAME-3 translocates to, and sequesters c-FLIP in the nucleus upon overexpression in human cell lines. Using the yeast two-hybrid system to identify DEDD-interacting proteins, the TFIIIC102 subunit of human transcription factor TFIIIC was identified as a DEDD- and FLAME-3-specific interacting protein. Co-expression of either DEDD or FLAME-3 with hTFIIIC102 in MCF-7 cells induces the translocation from the cytoplasm and sequestration of hTFIIIC102 in the nucleus, indicating that DEDD and FLAME-3 form strong heterocomplexes with hTFIIIC102 and might be important regulators of the activity of the hTFIIIC transcriptional complex. Consistent with this, overexpression of DEDD or FLAME-3 in 293 cells inhibited the expression of a luciferase-reporter gene under the control of the NF-kappaB promoter. Our data provide the first direct evidence for the involvement of DED-containing proteins in the regulation of components of the general transcription machinery in the nucleus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Detection of modifications in the glucose metabolism induced by genetic mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by 13C- and H-NMR spectroscopy.

NMR spectroscopy may offer a suitable technique to characterize the glucose metabolism in response to genetic mutations in cells. The effects of various genetic modifications in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast were investigated using 13C- and 1H-NMR spectroscopy associated with biochemical techniques. Cells were incubated with [1-13C]glucose in order to study glucose consumption and the formation of various end-products (ethanol, trehalose, glycerol, glutamate and amino acids) as a function of time. Two types of genetic modifications were studied in S. cerevisiae. A genetic modification deleted the N-terminal part of the TFC7 protein which is the smallest subunit (tau55) of the TFIIIC transcription factor. One secondary effect of this mutation was a large deletion of mitochondrial DNA giving the rho-phenotype. The other genetic modification corresponded to the disruption of the HUF gene; the mutated cells were rho+ like the reference strain. Both mutations increase the glycolysis rate and glycerol synthesis and decrease trehalose production. The most modified cells, which contain both TFC7 deletion and HUF gene disruption, utilize glucose in the most extreme manner as in these cells the largest production of the two glycolytic products (ethanol and glycerol) and the smallest trehalose formation occur. The HUF gene disruption serves as a positive modulator of glycolysis and respiration. However, the TFC7 deletion, associated with the phenotype rho-, induces the most damage in the cellular function, dramatically altering the behaviour of the Krebs cycle. The cycle becomes blocked at the level of 2-oxoglutarate, detected by a characteristic pattern of the 13C-NMR glutamate spectra. These NMR spectra corroborate the phenotypic data, the rho-phenotype corresponding to deletions of mitochondria DNA which block all mitochondria protein synthesis and render the cells unable to derive energy from respiration. Moreover, as a consequence of the Krebs cycle blocking, alanine formation is also observed.

Carbon Isotopes↗

Expression of RNase P RNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is controlled by an unusual RNA polymerase III promoter.

The RNA subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae nuclear RNase P is encoded by a single-copy, essential gene, RPR1. The 369-nucleotide mature form of the RNA has an apparent precursor with an 84-nucleotide 5' leader and approximately 33 nucleotides of additional 3' sequence. Analysis of RPR1 transcription in a strain with a temperature-sensitive lesion in RNA polymerase III shows that the gene is transcribed in vivo by RNA polymerase III. Examination of potential promoter regions using both progressive upstream deletions and point mutations indicates that at least two sequences contained within the 5' leader region are essential for expression in vivo, while sequences farther upstream influence efficiency. The required leader elements resemble tRNA gene-like A-box and B-box internal promoters in sequence and spacing. As in the tRNA genes, transcription factor TFIIIC binds to this region in vitro and binding is severely reduced by either A-box or B-box point mutations that impair expression in vivo. It thus appears that the yeast RNase P RNA gene has adopted a promoter strategy that places an RNA polymerase III "internal" promoter upstream of the mature structural domain to help drive transcription.

Base Sequence↗

A protein-protein interaction map of yeast RNA polymerase III.

The structure of the yeast RNA polymerase (pol) III was investigated by exhaustive two-hybrid screening using a library of random genomic fragments fused to the Gal4 activation domain. This procedure allowed us to identify contacts between individual polypeptides, localize the contact domains, and deduce a protein-protein interaction map of the multisubunit enzyme. In all but one case, pol III subunits were able to interact in vivo with one or sometimes two partner subunits of the enzyme or with subunits of TFIIIC. Four subunits that are common to pol I, II, and III (ABC27, ABC14.5, ABC10alpha, and ABC10beta), two that are common to pol I and III (AC40 and AC19), and one pol III-specific subunit (C11) can associate with defined regions of the two large subunits. These regions overlapped with highly conserved domains. C53, a pol III-specific subunit, interacted with a 37-kDa polypeptide that copurifies with the enzyme and therefore appears to be a unique pol III subunit (C37). Together with parallel interaction studies based on dosage-dependent suppression of conditional mutants, our data suggest a model of the pol III preinitiation complex.

Binding Sites↗

A cryptic DNA binding domain at the COOH terminus of TFIIIB70 affects formation, stability, and function of preinitiation complexes.

TFIIIC-dependent assembly of yeast TFIIIB on class III genes unmasks a high avidity of TFIIIB for DNA. TFIIIB contains TATA-binding protein (TBP), TFIIIB90/B", and TFIIIB70/Brf1, which is homologous to TFIIB. Using limited proteolysis, we have found that the COOH terminus of TFIIIB70 (residues 510-596) forms a protease-resistant domain that binds DNA tightly as seen by Southwestern, DNase I footprinting, and gel shift assays. Consistent with a role for this DNA binding activity, preinitiation complexes were formed less efficiently with truncated TFIIIB70 lacking the COOH-terminal domain and displayed an increased sensitivity to heparin. B' (TFIIIB70 + TBP).TFIIIC.DNA complexes were also particularly unstable. In addition, TFIIIB.TFIIIC.DNA complexes containing truncated TFIIIB70 were impaired in promoting transcription initiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Superimposed promoter sequences of the adenoviral E2 early RNA polymerase III and RNA polymerase II transcription units.

The human adenovirus type 2 E2 early (E2E) transcriptional control region contains an efficient RNA polymerase III promoter, in addition to the well characterized promoter for RNA polymerase II. To determine whether this promoter includes intragenic sequences, we examined the effects of precise substitutions introduced between positions +2 and +62 on E2E transcription in an RNA polymerase III-specific, in vitro system. Two noncontiguous sequences within this region were necessary for efficient or accurate transcription by this enzyme. The sequence and properties of the functional element proximal to the sites of initiation identified it as an A box. Although a B box sequence could not be unambiguously located, substitutions between positions +42 and +62 that severely impaired transcription also inhibited binding of the human general initiation protein TFIIIC. Thus, this region of the RNA polymerase III E2E promoter contains a B box sequence. We also identified previously unrecognized intragenic sequences of the E2E RNA polymerase II promoter. In conjunction with our previous observations, these data establish that RNA polymerase II and RNA polymerase III promoter sequences are superimposed from approximately positions -30 to +20 of the complex E2E transcriptional control region. The alterations in transcription induced by certain mutations suggest that components of the RNA polymerase II and RNA polymerase III transcriptional machines compete for access to overlapping binding sites in the E2E template.

Adenovirus E2 Proteins↗

Nuclear factor 1 (NF1) affects accurate termination and multiple-round transcription by human RNA polymerase III.

We have shown previously that the TFIIIC1/TFIIIC1' fraction interacts specifically with the VA1 terminator regions to affect both termination and initiation/reinitiation of transcription by human RNA polymerase III. Here, we further purified the VA1 terminator-binding factor to apparent homogeneity and found, by peptide sequence analysis, that it belongs to the NF1 protein family. NF1 interacts specifically with the NF1-binding sites within the terminator regions of the VA1 gene and with two subunits (TFIIIC220 and TFIIIC110) of human TFIIIC2. Immunodepletion with anti-NF1 antibodies dramatically decreases transcription from the VA1 template in nuclear extract, and mutation at the NF1-binding site in the terminator region of the VA1 gene selectively affects multiple-round transcription (reinitiation of transcription) and termination. In addition, NF1 acts in conjunction with TFIIIC to promote accurate termination by RNA polymerase III on a C-tailed VA1 template.

Base Sequence↗

On the flexible interaction of yeast factor tau with the bipartite promoter of tRNA genes.

Yeast transcription factor tau (analogous to vertebrate TFIIIC) interacts specifically with the internal split promoter of tRNA genes. Binding to the two promoter elements (A block and B block) occurs within 30 seconds even when they are separated by a long intervening sequence. Dimethylsulfate protection analysis of contact points between tau and the noncoding strand of a series of internally deleted tRNA3(Leu) genes shows that the specificity of the interaction is not affected by changes in the distance or in the relative helical orientation of the promoter elements. This result is consistent with the results of previous footprinting experiments (Baker, R.E., Camier, S., Sentenac, A. and Hall, B.D., 1987, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84, 8768-8772). To test if any physical constraint is imposed on the DNA molecule upon tau binding, we analyzed the effect of introducing random single-strand breaks in the noncoding strand of the tRNA gene. Whereas some nicks located in the A block were found to prevent tau binding, no single-strand break in the B block region or in the DNA between the A and B blocks were observed to inhibit or facilitate the binding of tau. We therefore propose that the great flexibility of the tau-tDNA interaction is mostly due to the tau protein itself.

DNA, Fungal↗

Trypanosome nuclear factors which bind to internal promoter elements of tRNA genes.

Expression of eukaryotic nuclear encoded tRNA genes requires two transcription factors, TFIIIB and TFIIIC. To determine if the highly evolutionarily diverged parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei possesses any analogous factors, trypanosome nuclear extracts were prepared. Using these extracts in gel-retardation assays on trypanosome tRNA genes we detected three specific protein-DNA complexes, a highly retarded species and a less retarded pair of complexes. Introduction of mutations into the B box of a lysyl tRNA gene greatly reduced formation of all three complexes. Footprinting studies indicated that all complexes protected the B box of the tRNA gene from cleavage. The most highly retarded complex protected both the A and B boxes from DNasel cleavage. The less retarded pair of complexes showed footprints on the B box alone and the lowest B box specific complex is shown to be resistant to the polyanion heparin. All three complexes are demonstrated to induce bends in the DNA on binding.

Animals↗

The RNA polymerase III-dependent family of genes in hemiascomycetes: comparative RNomics, decoding strategies, transcription and evolutionary implications.

We present the first comprehensive analysis of RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcribed genes in ten yeast genomes. This set includes all tRNA genes (tDNA) and genes coding for SNR6 (U6), SNR52, SCR1 and RPR1 RNA in the nine hemiascomycetes Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces castellii, Candida glabrata, Kluyveromyces waltii, Kluyveromyces lactis, Eremothecium gossypii, Debaryomyces hansenii, Candida albicans, Yarrowia lipolytica and the archiascomycete Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We systematically analysed sequence specificities of tRNA genes, polymorphism, variability of introns, gene redundancy and gene clustering. Analysis of decoding strategies showed that yeasts close to S.cerevisiae use bacterial decoding rules to read the Leu CUN and Arg CGN codons, in contrast to all other known Eukaryotes. In D.hansenii and C.albicans, we identified a novel tDNA-Leu (AAG), reading the Leu CUU/CUC/CUA codons with an unusual G at position 32. A systematic 'p-distance tree' using the 60 variable positions of the tRNA molecule revealed that most tDNAs cluster into amino acid-specific sub-trees, suggesting that, within hemiascomycetes, orthologous tDNAs are more closely related than paralogs. We finally determined the bipartite A- and B-box sequences recognized by TFIIIC. These minimal sequences are nearly conserved throughout hemiascomycetes and were satisfactorily retrieved at appropriate locations in other Pol III genes.

Ascomycota↗

Identification of an autonomously initiating RNA polymerase III holoenzyme containing a novel factor that is selectively inactivated during protein synthesis inhibition.

Transcription by RNA polymerase III (Pol III) requires multiple general initiation factors that, in isolated form, assemble onto the promoter in an ordered fashion. Here, it is shown that all components required for transcription of the VA1 and tRNA genes, including TFIIIB, TFIIIC, and RNA Pol III, can be coimmunopurified from a HeLa cell line that constantly expresses a FLAG epitope-tagged subunit of human RNA Pol III. This finding of an RNA Pol III "holoenzyme" suggests similarities between transcription initiation by RNA Pol II and RNA Pol III and has led to the identification of a novel general initiation factor (TDF, translation dependent factor) that is present within the holoenzyme. TDF is selectively inactivated during protein synthesis inhibition by cycloheximide and at a late stage of adenovirus infection, thus accounting for the loss of RNA Pol III-mediated transcription of the tRNA and VA RNA genes under these conditions. On the basis of these observations, possible mechanisms for the global regulation of transcription by RNA Pol III and for disassembly of RNA Pol III initiation complexes are proposed.

Coenzymes↗

Mass analysis of biological macromolecular complexes by STEM.

Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) provides a superbly versatile method of measuring the masses of macromolecular complexes ranging in size from single protein subunits to large virus particles. The physical basis of the method is the elastic scattering of electrons by the component atoms of the specimen. Unstained molecules yield a dark-field signal that is proportional to their local mass density, thus allowing direct measurements of the total mass of an individual particle, as well as of the masses of its resolved domains by integrating over appropriate regions of the image. In this review, we present an introduction to the STEM method of mass analysis from a practical standpoint, stressing the essential points of specimen preparation, as well as the scope and current limitations of the method. Its potentialities are illustrated by applications to several classes of macromolecules: isolated oligomeric proteins (the envelope glycoprotein of HIV), nucleoprotein complexes (SV40 minichromosome, transcription factor TFIIIC), membranous specimens (clathrin-coated membranes, the VDAC channel), and viruses (vesicular stomatitis virus; herpes simplex virus). In the case of multicomponent complexes, STEM mass measurements of both the intact complex and of defined biochemical derivatives (for instance, after extraction of specific components), allow one to compile complete and precise molecular inventories. Finally, we briefly anticipate future advances that should allow even more precise and detailed mass mappings, the labelling of specific sites with heavy atom clusters, and elemental mapping based on weak inelastic signals acquired in parallel with the relatively intense dark-field signals that have been so successfully exploited to date.

Animals↗

Requirement of Nhp6 proteins for transcription of a subset of tRNA genes and heterochromatin barrier function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A key event in tRNA gene (tDNA) transcription by RNA polymerase (Pol) III is the TFIIIC-dependent assembly of TFIIIB upstream of the transcription start site. Different tDNA upstream sequences bind TFIIIB with different affinities, thereby modulating tDNA transcription. We found that in the absence of Nhp6 proteins, the influence of the 5'-flanking region on tRNA gene transcription is dramatically enhanced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression of a tDNA bearing a suboptimal TFIIIB binding site, but not of a tDNA preceded by a strong TFIIIB binding region, was strongly dependent on Nhp6 in vivo. Upstream sequence-dependent stimulation of tRNA gene transcription by Nhp6 could be reproduced in vitro, and Nhp6 proteins were found associated with tRNA genes in yeast cells. We also show that both transcription and silencing barrier activity of a tDNA(Thr) at the HMR locus are compromised in the absence of Nhp6. Our data suggest that Nhp6 proteins are important components of Pol III chromatin templates that contribute both to the robustness of tRNA gene expression and to positional effects of Pol III transcription complexes.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗

TAP1, a yeast gene that activates the expression of a tRNA gene with a defective internal promoter.

We developed a genetic selection system based on nonsense suppression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify mutations in proteins involved in transcription initiation by RNA polymerase III. A SUP4 tRNA(Tyr) internal promoter mutation (A53T61) that was unable to suppress ochre mutations in vivo and was incapable of binding TFIIIC in vitro was used as the target for selection of trans-acting compensatory mutations. We identified two such mutations in the same gene, which we named TAP1 (for transcription activation protein). The level of the SUP4A53T61 transcript was threefold higher in the tap1-1 mutant than in the wild type. The tap1-1 mutant strain was also temperature sensitive for growth. The thermosensitive character cosegregated with the restorer of suppression activity, as shown by meiotic linkage analysis and coreversion of the two traits. At 1 to 2 h after a shift to the restrictive temperature, RNA synthesis was strongly inhibited in the tap1-1 mutant, preceding any effect upon protein synthesis or growth. A marked decrease in tRNA and 5S rRNA synthesis was seen, and shortly after that, rRNA synthesis was inhibited. By complementation of the ts- growth defect, we cloned the wild-type TAP1 gene. It is essential for yeast growth. We show in the accompanying report (T. L. Aldrich, G. Di Segni, B. L. McConaughy, N. J. Keen, S. Whelen, and B. D. Hall, Mol. Cell. Biol. 13:3434-3444, 1993) that TAP1 is identical to RAT1, a yeast gene implicated in poly(A)+ RNA export and that the TAP1/RAT1 gene product has extensive sequence similarity to the protein encoded by another yeast gene (variously named DST2, KEM1, RAR5, SEP1, or XRN1) having exonuclease and DNA strand transfer activity (reviewed by Kearsey and Kipling [Trends Cell Biol. 1:110-112, 1991]).

Alleles↗

Proximal sequence element-binding transcription factor (PTF) is a multisubunit complex required for transcription of both RNA polymerase II- and RNA polymerase III-dependent small nuclear RNA genes.

The proximal sequence element (PSE), found in both RNA polymerase II (Pol II)- and RNA Pol III-transcribed small nuclear RNA (snRNA) genes, is specifically bound by the PSE-binding transcription factor (PTF). We have purified PTF to near homogeneity from HeLa cell extracts by using a combination of conventional and affinity chromatographic methods. Purified PTF is composed of four polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 180, 55, 45, and 44 kDa. A combination of preparative electrophoretic mobility shift and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analyses has conclusively identified these four polypeptides as subunits of human PTF, while UV cross-linking experiments demonstrate that the largest subunit of PTF is in close contact with the PSE. The purified PTF activates transcription from promoters of both Pol II- and Pol III-transcribed snRNA genes in a PSE-dependent manner. In addition, we have investigated factor requirements in transcription of Pol III-dependent snRNA genes. We show that in extracts that have been depleted of TATA-binding protein (TBP) and associated factors, recombinant TBP restores transcription from U6 and 7SK promoters but not from the VAI promoter, whereas the highly purified TBP-TBP-associated factor complex TFIIIB restores transcription from the VAI but not the U6 or 7SK promoter. Furthermore, by complementation of heat-treated extracts lacking TFIIIC activity, we show that TFIIIC1 is required for transcription of both the 7SK and VAI genes, whereas TFIIIC2 is required only for transcription of the VAI gene. From these observations, we conclude (i) that PTF and TFIIIC2 function as gene-specific as gene-specific factors for PSE-and B-box-containing Pol III genes, respectively, (ii) that the form of TBP used by class III genes with upstream promoter elements differs from the from used by class III genes with internal promoters, and (iii) that TFIIIC1 is required for both internal and external Pol III promoters.

Base Sequence↗

Lack of gene- and strand-specific DNA repair in RNA polymerase III-transcribed human tRNA genes.

UV light induces DNA lesions which are removed by nucleotide excision repair. Genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II are repaired faster than the flanking chromatin, and the transcribed strand is repaired faster than the coding strand. Transcription-coupled repair is not seen in RNA polymerase I-transcribed human rRNA genes. Since repair of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase III has not been analyzed before, we investigated DNA repair of tRNA genes after irradiation of human fibroblasts with UVC. We studied the repair of UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers at nucleotide resolution by ligation-mediated PCR. A single-copy gene encoding selenocysteine tRNA, a tRNA valine gene, and their flanking sequences were analyzed. Protein-DNA footprinting showed that both genes were occupied by regulatory factors in vivo, and Northern blotting and nuclear run-on analysis of the tRNA indicated that these genes were actively transcribed. We found that both genes were repaired slower than RNA polymerase II-transcribed genes. No major difference between repair of the transcribed and the coding DNA strands was detected. Transcribed sequences of the tRNA genes were not repaired faster than flanking sequences. Indeed, several sequence positions in the 5' flanking region of the tRNA(Val) gene were repaired more efficiently than the gene itself. These results indicate that unlike RNA polymerase II, RNA polymerase III has no stimulatory effect on DNA repair. Since tRNA genes are covered by the regulatory factor TFIIIC and RNA polymerase III, these proteins may actually inhibit the DNA's accessibility to repair enzymes.

Base Sequence↗