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Heterogeneous nuclear RNA‐ribonucleoprotein F binds to DNA via an oligo(dG)‐motif and is associated with RNA polymerase II
Author(s) -
Yoshida Tatsushi,
Kokura Kenji,
Makino Yasutaka,
Ossipow Vincent,
Tamura Takaaki
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
genes to cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1365-2443
pISSN - 1356-9597
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2443.1999.00295.x
Subject(s) - heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , ribonucleoprotein , rna , heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein particle , rna splicing , rna binding protein , rna polymerase ii , polymerase , dna , messenger rna , promoter , gene expression , gene , biochemistry
Background The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein F (hnRNP‐F) is one of the constituents of the splicing‐related hnRNP complex. Recent studies suggest that pre‐mRNA modification and splicing factors are associated with transcriptional initiation factors and RNA polymerase II (RNA pol II) at a promoter, implying that pre‐mRNA‐engaged factors might be associated with a promoter. Results We isolated a cDNA of rat hnRNP‐F and expressed the recombinant protein. HnRNP‐F selectively bound to oligo(dG) in constructions with other oligohomonucleotides. The ssDNA of an SV40 promoter sequence having the GC‐boxes was bound to hnRNP‐F, while hnRNP‐F bound to the (G/C)‐stretch as dsDNA. Consequently, hnRNP‐F was designated as an oligo(dG)‐binding protein. None of the RNA‐binding domains (RBDs) in hnRNP‐F were critical for the oligo(dG)‐binding. In contrast, the GY‐rich region that exists between RBD‐II and ‐III exhibited an oligo(dG)‐binding ability. We suggest that the GY‐rich region is a novel DNA‐binding motif. HnRNP‐F was shown to contain two types of binding motifs for RNA and DNA. Additionally, we found that hnRNP‐F was co‐precipitated with RNA pol II. Interestingly, the RNA pol II holoenzyme also contained hnRNP‐F. The tissue distribution profile of hnRNP‐F was similar to that of both RNA pol II and TBP. Conclusion The above results suggest that hnRNP‐F is associated with a transcriptional initiation apparatus that includes RNA pol II. The DNA‐binding ability of hnRNP‐F might facilitate the entry of pre‐mRNA modification/splicing factors at a promoter.