Structure of an archaeal RNA polymerase.
Related multisubunit RNA polymerases (RNAPs) carry out gene transcription in all kingdoms of life. Since structural information is limited to bacterial and eukaryotic RNAPs, we determined the cryo-electron microscopic structure of the RNAP from the thermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus at 13 A resolution. Comparison with eukaryotic RNAP II reveals a conserved architecture, no homologues for subunits Rpb8 and Rpb9, and significant deviation in the polymerase foot, jaws, pore, and protrusion. The structural organization of the archaeal RNA polymerase serves as a reference for future structure-function analysis of the transcription mechanism and allows for evolutionary comparisons.
Kusser
Anselm G
AG
Gene Center Munich and Center for integrated Protein Science CiPS(M), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, 81377 Munich, Germany.
Bertero
Michela G
MG
Naji
Souad
S
Becker
Thomas
T
Thomm
Michael
M
Beckmann
Roland
R
Cramer
Patrick
P
D000818:Animals; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D001665:Binding Sites; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry; D020027:Pyrococcus furiosus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases