Selenotrisulfide inhibits initiation by RNA polymerase II but not elongation.
We previously reported that RNA polymerase II (purified from wheat germ) is inhibited by selenotrisulfides, the products of the reaction of selenite with sulfhydryl compounds [Frenkel, Walcott, and Middleton, Molecular Pharmacology 31, 112 (1987)]. We have now found that the initiation stage of the reaction is inhibited by selenotrisulfide but the elongation stage of the reaction is not. The actual start of the RNA chain is not inhibited by the selenotrisulfide, but rather the formation of the enzyme-DNA binary complex. Selenotrisulfide has a similar differential effect on initiation and elongation by RNA polymerase II from HeLa cells; in contrast, with E. coli RNA polymerase, it inhibits elongation as well.
Frenkel
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GD
Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102.
Falvey
D
D
D003543:Cysteamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004220:Disulfides / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds; D010944:Plants / Q000201:enzymology; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D020887:Selenious Acid; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D014908:Triticum / Q000201:enzymology
D004220:Disulfides; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; C059755:selenotrisulfide; D000431:Ethanol; C059756:selenodimercaptoethanol; D003543:Cysteamine; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D012319:RNA Polymerase II; D020887:Selenious Acid; D005978:Glutathione; D012643:Selenium