title: Structure-function studies of the RNA polymerase II elongation complex.
abstract: RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is the eukaryotic enzyme that is responsible for transcribing all protein-coding genes into messenger RNA (mRNA). The mRNA-transcription cycle can be divided into three stages: initiation, elongation and termination. During elongation, Pol II moves along a DNA template and synthesizes a complementary RNA chain in a processive manner. X-ray structural analysis has proved to be a potent tool for elucidating the mechanism of Pol II elongation. Crystallographic snapshots of different functional states of the Pol II elongation complex (EC) have elucidated mechanistic details of nucleotide addition and Pol II translocation. Further structural studies in combination with in vitro transcription experiments led to a mechanistic understanding of various additional features of the EC, including its inhibition by the fungal toxin alpha-amanitin, the tunability of the active site by the elongation factor TFIIS, the recognition of DNA lesions and the use of RNA as a template.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gene Center Munich and Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brueckner
authors.forename: Karim Jean
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Armache
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Gerke E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Damsma
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kettenberger
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sydow
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cramer
mesh_terms: D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D035602:Transcriptional Elongation Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D035602:Transcriptional Elongation Factors; C018648:transcription factor S-II; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D012319:RNA Polymerase II