Interactions between DSIF (DRB sensitivity inducing factor), NELF (negative elongation factor), and the Drosophila RNA polymerase II transcription elongation complex.
Negative elongation factor (NELF) and 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole sensitivity-inducing factor (DSIF) are involved in pausing RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) in the promoter-proximal region of the hsp70 gene in Drosophila, before heat shock induction. Such blocks in elongation are widespread in the Drosophila genome. However, the mechanism by which DSIF and NELF participate in setting up the paused Pol II remains unclear. We analyzed the interactions among DSIF, NELF, and a reconstituted Drosophila Pol II elongation complex to gain insight into the mechanism of pausing. Our results show that DSIF and NELF require a nascent transcript longer than 18 nt to stably associate with the Pol II elongation complex. Protein-RNA cross-linking reveals that Spt5, the largest subunit of DSIF, contacts the nascent RNA as the RNA emerges from the elongation complex. Taken together, these results provide a possible model by which DSIF binds the elongation complex via association with the nascent transcript and subsequently recruits NELF. Although DSIF and NELF were both required for inhibition of transcription, we did not detect a NELF-RNA contact when the nascent transcript was between 22 and 31 nt long, which encompasses the region where promoter-proximal pausing occurs on many genes in Drosophila. This raises the possibility that RNA binding by NELF is not necessary in promoter-proximal pausing.
Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Anamika
A
Missra
David S
DS
Gilmour
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008954:Models, Biological; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D019076:Transgenes; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; C492141:DSIF protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C118437:negative elongation factor; D012313:RNA; D012319:RNA Polymerase II