title: Formation of an RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex on an RNA promoter derived from the hepatitis delta virus RNA genome.
abstract: Although RNA polymerases (RNAPs) are able to use RNA as template, it is unknown how they recognize RNA promoters. In this study, we used an RNA fragment derived from the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) genome as a model to investigate the recognition of RNA promoters by RNAP II. Inhibition of the transcription reaction using an antibody specific to the largest subunit of RNAP II and the direct binding of purified RNAP II to the RNA promoter confirmed the involvement of RNAP II in the reaction. RNA affinity chromatography established that an active RNAP II preinitiation complex forms on the RNA promoter and indicated that this complex contains the core RNAP II subunit and the general transcription factors TFIIA, TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TFIIS. Binding assays demonstrated the direct binding of the TATA-binding protein and suggested that this protein is required to nucleate the RNAP II complex on the RNA promoter. Our findings provide a better understanding of the events leading to RNA promoter recognition by RNAP II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8M5, Canada.
authors.forename: Abrahem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abrahem
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pelchat
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006367:HeLa Cells; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D012319:RNA Polymerase II