Premium
CIITA regulates transcription onset via Ser5‐phosphorylation of RNA Pol II
Author(s) -
Spilianakis Charalambos,
Kretsovali Androniki,
Agalioti Theodora,
Makatounakis Takis,
Thanos Dimitris,
Papamatheakis Joseph
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/cdg496
Subject(s) - ciita , rna polymerase ii , biology , chromatin , transcription (linguistics) , chromatin remodeling , transactivation , enhancer , promoter , microbiology and biotechnology , transcription factor , gene , gene expression , genetics , major histocompatibility complex , mhc class ii , linguistics , philosophy
We describe the temporal order of recruitment of transcription factors, cofactors and basal transcriptional components and the consequent biochemical events that lead to activation of the major histocompatibility class II (MHCII) DRA gene transcription by IFN‐γ. We found that the gene is ‘poised’ for activation since both the activators and a fraction of the basal transcriptional machinery are pre‐assembled at the enhancer and promoter prior to IFN‐γ treatment. The class II transactivator is synthesized following IFN‐γ treatment and it is recruited to the enhanceosome leading to the subsequent recruitment of the CBP and GCN5 coactivators. This is followed by histone acetylation and recruitment of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. CIITA also recruits the CDK7 and CDK9 kinases and enhances the ability of CDK7 to phosphorylate Pol II at Ser5 leading to initiation of mRNA synthesis. Thus, the gene‐specific class II transactivator selects the target genes for expression by coordinating a multiple set of biochemical activities ranging from chromatin alterations and pre‐initiation complex assembly to promoter clearance.