title: A single-stranded promoter for RNA polymerase III.
abstract: Single strands of DNA serve, in rare instances, as promoters for transcription; duplex DNA promoters with individual strands that also have a promoter capacityfunction have not been described. We show that the nontranscribed strand of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae U6 snRNA gene directs transcription initiation factor IIIB-requiring and accurately initiating transcription by RNA polymerase III. The nontranscribed strand promoter is much more extended than its duplex DNA counterpart, comprising the U6 gene TATA box, a downstream T(7) tract, and an upstream-lying segment. A requirement for placement of the 3' end of the transcribed (template) strand within the confines of the transcription bubble is seen as indicating that the nontranscribed strand provides a scaffold for RNA polymerase recruitment but is deficient at a subsequent step of transcription initiation factor IIIB's direct involvement in promoter opening.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences and Center for Molecular Genetics, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0634, USA.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schroder
authors.forename: E Peter
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Geiduschek
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kassavetis
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012320:RNA Polymerase III / Q000235:genetics*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D012320:RNA Polymerase III