title: Analysis of the gene encoding the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II in Drosophila.
abstract: We have characterized RpII215, the gene encoding the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II in Drosophila melanogaster. DNA sequencing and nuclease S1 analyses provided the primary structure of this gene, its 7 kb RNA and 215 kDa protein products. The amino-terminal 80% of the subunit harbors regions with strong homology to the beta' subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and to the largest subunits of other eukaryotic RNA polymerases. The carboxyl-terminal 20% of the subunit is composed of multiple repeats of a seven amino acid consensus sequence, Tyr-Ser-Pro-Thr-Ser-Pro-Ser. The homology domains, as well as the unique carboxyl-terminal structure, are considered in the light of current knowledge of RNA polymerase II and the properties of its largest subunit. Additionally, germline transformation demonstrated that a 9.4 kb genomic DNA segment containing the alpha-amanitin-resistant allele, RpII215C4, includes all sequences required to produce amanitin-resistant transformants.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Jokerst
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Weeks
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Zehring
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Greenleaf
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D005796:Genes; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000235:genetics*; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D004247:DNA; D012319:RNA Polymerase II