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Mechanism and Regulation of RNA Polymerase II
Author(s) -
Kaplan Craig D.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.413.1
Subject(s) - rna polymerase ii , rna polymerase iii , transcription (linguistics) , transcription factor ii d , processivity , saccharomyces cerevisiae , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , rna polymerase , polymerase , rna , gene expression , genetics , gene , promoter , linguistics , philosophy
Regulated gene expression by RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) is essential for organismal function and underpins development and response to environment in eukaryotes. Alteration to Pol II catalytic activity causes all aspects of transcription from initiation to elongation, termination, and RNA processing to be altered. We have undertaken high‐throughput genetic analyses to dissect the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pol II active site and determine how individual residues of a critical Pol II domain – the trigger loop (TL) – function. These studies allow us to test models for Pol II function and illuminate the contributions of residues to basic Pol II functions. We have also characterized the mechanisms by which the small molecule thiolutin, a long known transcription inhibitor lacking defined mechanism, alters transcription and yeast cellular physiology. We show that while thiolutin has many in vivo effects, it directly inhibits Pol II activity in multiple ways, and thiolutin‐inhibited Pol II has unique properties not observed for another Pol II inhibitor, alpha‐amanitin. We will discuss how these and other studies allow us to learn about fundamental transcription mechanisms. Support or Funding Information NIH GM097260, GM120450 Welch Foundation A‐1763