Mutations in a conserved region of RNA polymerase II influence the accuracy of mRNA start site selection.

Selection Similarly to Sua7 (tfiib) Mutations. Polymerase Ii and Affect Transcription Start Site Residues within the Largest Subunit of Rna Cerevisiae Encode Replacements of Conserved the Sua8 Suppressors of Saccharomyces

Stimulation of transcription by mutations affecting conserved regions of RNA polymerase II.

Mutations that increase the low-level transcription of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae HIS4 gene, which results from deletion of the genes encoding transcription factors BAS1, BAS2, and GCN4, were isolated previously in SIT1 (also known as RPO21, RPB1, and SUA8), the gene encoding the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). Here we show that sit1 substitutions cluster in two conserved regio...

Mutations of RNA polymerase II activate key genes of the nucleoside triphosphate biosynthetic pathways

The yeast URA2 gene, encoding the rate-limiting enzyme of UTP biosynthesis, is transcriptionally activated by UTP shortage. In contrast to other genes of the UTP pathway, this activation is not governed by the Ppr1 activator. Moreover, it is not due to an increased recruitment of RNA polymerase II at the URA2 promoter, but to its much more effective progression beyond the URA2 mRNA start site(s...

Position of the general transcription factor TFIIF within the RNA polymerase II transcription preinitiation complex.

The RNA polymerase (pol) II general transcription factor TFIIF functions at several steps in transcription initiation including preinitiation complex (PIC) formation and start site selection. We find that two structured TFIIF domains bind Pol II at separate locations far from the active site with the TFIIF dimerization domain on the Pol II lobe and the winged helix domain of the TFIIF small sub...

Mutational analysis of an archaebacterial promoter: essential role of a TATA box for transcription efficiency and start-site selection in vitro.

By using a recently developed in vitro transcription assay, the 16S/23S rRNA-encoding DNA promoter from the archaebacterium Sulfolobus sp. B12 was dissected by deletion and linker substitution mutagenesis. The analysis of 5' and 3' deletion mutants defined a core promoter region between positions -38 and -2 containing all information for efficient and specific transcription. Further characteriz...