QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pape, L K Articles by Sollner-Webb, B Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pape, L K Articles by Sollner-Webb, B Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Research Papers

Half helical turn spacing changes convert a frog into a mouse rDNA promoter: a distant upstream domain determines the helix face of the initiation site.

Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.

Abstract

Transcription of frog rDNA by mouse cell factors is the only documented exception to the observed species selectivity of rRNA gene expression. This heterologous transcription is authentic in that it uses the normal frog upstream and core promoter domains, as well as the normal mouse polymerase I transcription factors, but it initiates at residue -4. We now show that by introducing an insertion or deletion of approximately one-half helical turn anywhere within the 90-bp region between the upstream and core promoter domains, the initiation site moves to residue +1. Promoters bearing spacing changes of approximately one or two full helix turns do not initiate at residue +1, whereas a promoter with a one and one-half-turn helical turn spacing change again supports initiation at residue +1. Thus, the position of the upstream domain of the frog promoter shows a stereo-specific requirement relative to the core promoter domain and dictates the face of the DNA helix on which transcription initiates, 140 bp away. In contrast, relative to the core promoter domain, initiation can occur on either side of the DNA helix. Furthermore, the striking observation that several frog half helical turn spacing change mutants are stronger templates with the mouse factors than the homologous mouse rDNA suggests that the polymerase I transcriptional machinery of even distantly related species is far more similar than generally envisioned.

CiteULike

Connotea

Del.icio.us

Digg

Reddit

Technorati

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Liu, A. Guo, B. Boukhgalter, K. Van Den Heuvel, M. Tripp, and L. Pape Characterization of the fission yeast ribosomal DNA binding factor: components share homology with Upstream Activating Factor and with SWI/SNF subunits Nucleic Acids Res., December 15, 2002; 30(24): 5347 - 5359. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. Paule and R. J. White SURVEY AND SUMMARY Transcription by RNA polymerases I and III Nucleic Acids Res., March 15, 2000; 28(6): 1283 - 1298. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Tuan, W. Zhai, and L. Comai Recruitment of TATA-Binding Protein-TAFI Complex SL1 to the Human Ribosomal DNA Promoter Is Mediated by the Carboxy-Terminal Activation Domain of Upstream Binding Factor (UBF) and Is Regulated by UBF Phosphorylation Mol. Cell. Biol., April 1, 1999; 19(4): 2872 - 2879. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. B. Mougey, L. K. Pape, and B. Sollner-Webb Virtually the Entire Xenopus laevis rDNA Multikilobase Intergenic Spacer Serves to Stimulate Polymerase I Transcription J. Biol. Chem., October 25, 1996; 271(43): 27138 - 27145. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D A Keys, B S Lee, J A Dodd, T T Nguyen, L Vu, E Fantino, L M Burson, Y Nogi, and M Nomura Multiprotein transcription factor UAF interacts with the upstream element of the yeast RNA polymerase I promoter and forms a stable preinitiation complex. Genes & Dev., April 1, 1996; 10(7): 887 - 903. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B McStay, M W Frazier, and R H Reeder xUBF contains a novel dimerization domain essential for RNA polymerase I transcription. Genes & Dev., November 1, 1991; 5(11): 1957 - 1968. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B McStay and R H Reeder An RNA polymerase I termination site can stimulate the adjacent ribosomal gene promoter by two distinct mechanisms in Xenopus laevis. Genes & Dev., July 1, 1990; 4(7): 1240 - 1251. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S P Bell, H M Jantzen, and R Tjian Assembly of alternative multiprotein complexes directs rRNA promoter selectivity. Genes & Dev., June 1, 1990; 4(6): 943 - 954. [Abstract] [PDF]