The C-terminal domain of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drosophila melanogaster, and mammals: A conserved structure with an essential function

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Mol. Cell. Biol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.8.1.321· OSTI ID:6925557

Allison, L A; Wong, J K.C.; Fitzpatrick, V D; Moyle, M; Ingles, C J

Using DNA encoding the largest subunit of Drosophila melanogaster RNA polymerase II, the authors isolated the homologous hamster RPO21 gene. Nucleotide sequencing of both the hamster and D. melanogaster RPO21 DNAs confirmed that the RPO21 polypeptides of these two species, like the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RPO21 polypeptide, contain both an N-terminal region homologous to the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase subunit ..beta..' and a unique polymerase II-specific C-terminal domain. This C-terminal domain, encoded by separate exons in the D. melanogaster and hamster genes, consists of a tandemly repeated heptapeptide sequence. By constructing a series of deletions in DNA encoding the 26 heptapeptide repeats normally present in the S. cerevisiae RPO21 polypeptide, the authors have established that a minimum of between 9 and 11 repeats is necessary for RPO21 function in yeast cells. Replacement of the yeast RPO21 heptapeptide repeats by the longer hamster repetitive domain resulted in viable yeast cells with no detectable mutant phenotype, while a similar replacement of the yeast repeats by the more divergent D. melanogaster repeats was a recessive lethal mutation. The authors suggest that this novel repetitive domain is essential for proper initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II and that it may mediate the functions of TATA boxes, upstream activating sequences, and enhancers.

• Research Organization: Banting and Best Dept. of Medical Research, Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L6 (CA)
• OSTI ID: 6925557
• Journal Information: Mol. Cell. Biol.; (United States), Vol. 8:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
RNA POLYMERASES
DNA SEQUENCING
GENETIC MAPPING
RNA PROCESSING
ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
DOMAIN STRUCTURE
DROSOPHILA
HAMSTERS
LETHAL MUTATIONS
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
MUTANTS
PHENOTYPE
SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE
SPECIES DIVERSITY
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DIPTERA
ENZYMES
FLIES
FRUIT FLIES
FUNCTIONS
FUNGI
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
MAMMALS
MAPPING
MICROORGANISMS
MUTATIONS
NUCLEOTIDYLTRANSFERASES
PHOSPHORUS-GROUP TRANSFERASES
PLANTS
POLYMERASES
RODENTS
SACCHAROMYCES
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
TRANSFERASES
VERTEBRATES
YEASTS
550200* - Biochemistry
550400 - Genetics
400101 - Activation
Nuclear Reaction
Radiometric & Radiochemical Procedures