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The mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase ERK induces tRNA synthesis by phosphorylating TFIIIB
Author(s) -
FeltonEdkins Zoe A.,
Fairley Jennifer A.,
Graham Emma L.,
Johnston Imogen M.,
White Robert J.,
Scott Pamela H.
Publication year - 2003
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 - 10.1093/emboj/cdg240
Subject(s) - rna polymerase iii , biology , mapk/erk pathway , transcription factor , kinase , chromatin immunoprecipitation , microbiology and biotechnology , phosphorylation , promoter , genetics , gene , rna polymerase , gene expression , rna
RNA polymerase (pol) III transcription increases within minutes of serum addition to growth‐arrested fibroblasts. We show that ERK mitogen‐activated protein kinases regulate pol III output by directly binding and phosphorylating the BRF1 subunit of transcription factor TFIIIB. Blocking the ERK signalling cascade inhibits TFIIIB binding to pol III and to transcription factor TFIIIC2. Chromatin immunoprecipitation shows that the association of BRF1 and pol III with tRNA Leu genes in cells decreases when ERK is inactivated. Furthermore, mutation of an ERK docking domain or phosphoacceptor site in BRF1 prevents serum induction of pol III transcription. These data identify a novel target for ERK, and suggest that its ability to stimulate biosynthetic capacity and growth involves direct transcriptional activation of tRNA and 5S rRNA genes.