title: Maf1 regulation: a model of signal transduction inside the nucleus.
abstract: RNA polymerase III (Pol III) is responsible for the synthesis of 5S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and transfer RNAs (tRNAs) essential for protein synthesis and cell growth. Pol III is tightly controlled by growth signals such as nutrients and deregulation of Pol III-dependent transcription can lead to oncogenic transformation. In response to extracellular stimuli, the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) regulates Pol III activity through Maf1, a key conserved Pol III repressor. Recent studies have unraveled intricate mechanisms by which Maf1 activity is controlled at multiple levels, including nuclear transport and phoshorylation at specific chromatin loci. These studies suggest an emerging mode of gene regulation by extracellular signals inside the nucleus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Institute of New Jersey, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Yuehua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xf Steven
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D012320:RNA Polymerase III / Q000378:metabolism; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D012320:RNA Polymerase III