title: Transcription-dependent polyubiquitination of RNA polymerase II requires lysine 63 of ubiquitin.
abstract: Lysine-63-linked polyubiquitin chains are not thought to signal protein degradation but instead signal for a variety of cellular processes including some types of DNA repair. RNA polymerase (Pol) II is polyubiquitinated following DNA damage or upon treatment of nuclear extracts with the transcription inhibitor alpha-amanitin. Here, we report, using a reaction in vitro, that transcription-dependent polyubiquitination of RNA Pol II consists of lysine-63-linked chains. This modification is specific for RNA Pol II engaged in active transcription and arrested by alpha-amanitin.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer Research, Department of Biology, and McGovern Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Keng Boon
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Phillip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sharp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000235:genetics; D004249:DNA Damage; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000235:genetics; D004795:Enzyme Stability / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008239:Lysine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025821:Polyubiquitin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D025821:Polyubiquitin; D001120:Arginine; D012319:RNA Polymerase II; D008239:Lysine