Mechanism of transcription through the nucleosome by eukaryotic RNA polymerase.
Nucleosomes, the nucleohistone subunits of chromatin, are present on transcribed eukaryotic genes but do not prevent transcription. It is shown here that the large yeast RNA polymerase III transcribes through a single nucleosome. This takes place through a direct internal nucleosome transfer in which histones never leave the DNA template. During this process, the polymerase pauses with a pronounced periodicity of 10 to 11 base pairs, which is consistent with restricted rotation in the DNA loop formed during transfer. Transcription through nucleosomes by the eukaryotic enzyme and by much smaller prokaryotic RNA polymerases thus shares many features, reflecting an important property of nucleosomes.
Studitsky
V M
VM
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Kassavetis
G A
GA
Geiduschek
E P
EP
Felsenfeld
G
G
D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012320:RNA Polymerase III / Q000378:metabolism*; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D006657:Histones; D009707:Nucleosomes; D004247:DNA; C070852:RNA polymerase SP6; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D012320:RNA Polymerase III