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A subcomplex of RNA polymerase III subunits involved in transcription termination and reinitiation
Author(s) -
Landrieux Emilie,
Alic Nazif,
Ducrot Cécile,
Acker Joël,
Riva Michel,
Carles Christophe
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600915
Subject(s) - biology , rna polymerase ii , transcription factor ii d , transcription (linguistics) , rna polymerase ii holoenzyme , polymerase , microbiology and biotechnology , rna polymerase , termination factor , rna polymerase i , genetics , rna , gene , gene expression , promoter , linguistics , philosophy
While initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase III (Pol III) has been thoroughly investigated, molecular mechanisms driving transcription termination remain poorly understood. Here we describe how the characterization of the in vitro transcriptional properties of a Pol III variant (Pol IIIΔ), lacking the C11, C37, and C53 subunits, revealed crucial information about the mechanisms of Pol III termination and reinitiation. The specific requirement for the C37–C53 complex in terminator recognition was determined. This complex was demonstrated to slow down elongation by the enzyme, adding to the evidence implicating the elongation rate as a critical determinant of correct terminator recognition. In addition, the presence of the C37–C53 complex required the simultaneous addition of C11 to Pol IIIΔ for the enzyme to reinitiate after the first round of transcription, thus uncovering a role for polymerase subunits in the facilitated recycling process. Interestingly, we demonstrated that the role of C11 in recycling was independent of its role in RNA cleavage. The data presented allowed us to propose a model of Pol III termination and its links to reinitiation.