Transcription factor S, a cleavage induction factor of the archaeal RNA polymerase.
We have analyzed the function of an archaeal protein (now called transcription factor S (TFS)) that shows sequence similarity to eukaryotic transcription factor IIS (TFIIS) as well as to small subunits of eukaryotic RNA polymerases I (A12.6), II (B12.2), and III (C11). Western blot analysis with antibodies against recombinant TFS demonstrated that this protein is not a subunit of the RNA polymerase. In vitro transcription experiments with paused elongation complexes at position +25 showed that TFS is able to induce cleavage activity in the archaeal RNA polymerase in a similar manner to TFIIS. In the presence of TFS, the cleavage activity of the RNA polymerase truncates the RNA back to position +15 by releasing mainly dinucleotides from the 3'-end of the nascent RNA. Furthermore, TFS reduces the amount of non-chaseable elongation complexes at position +25 as well as position +45. These findings clearly demonstrate that this protein has a similar function to eukaryotic TFIIS.
Hausner
W
W
Institut für Allgemeine Mikrobiologie, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany. whausner@ifan.uni-kiel.de
Lange
U
U
Musfeldt
M
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D017017:Methanococcus / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010957:Plasmids; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012320:RNA Polymerase III / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D035165:Transcription Factors, General; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D035602:Transcriptional Elongation Factors
D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D035165:Transcription Factors, General; D035602:Transcriptional Elongation Factors; C018648:transcription factor S-II; D012313:RNA; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D012320:RNA Polymerase III