title: RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain required for enhancer-driven transcription.
abstract: The RNA polymerase II carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) consists of tandem repeats of the sequence Tyr-Ser-Pro-Thr-Ser-Pro-Ser. The CTD may participate in activated transcription through interaction with a high-molecular-weight mediator complex. Such a role would be consistent with observations that some genes are preferentially sensitive to CTD mutations. Here we investigate the function of the mouse RNA polymerase CTD in enhancer-driven transcription. Transcription by alpha-amanitin-resistant CTD-deletion mutants was tested by transient transfection of tissue culture cells in the presence of alpha-amanitin in order to inhibit endogenous RNA polymerase II. Removal of most of the CTD abolishes transcriptional activation by all enhancers tested, whereas transcription from promoters driven by Sp1, a factor that typically activates housekeeping genes from positions proximal to the initiation sites, is not affected. These findings show that the CTD is essential in mediating 'enhancer'-type activation of mammalian transcription.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Molekularbiologie II, Universität Zürich.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seipel
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Georgiev
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Litingtung
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schaffner
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Corden
mesh_terms: D000546:Amanitins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000546:Amanitins; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D004247:DNA; D012319:RNA Polymerase II