title: Structure-function analysis of hRPC62 provides insights into RNA polymerase III transcription initiation.
abstract: The 17-subunit human RNA polymerase III (hPol III) transcribes small, untranslated RNA genes that are involved in the regulation of transcription, splicing and translation. hPol III subunits hRPC62, hRPC39 and hRPC32 form a stable ternary subcomplex required for promoter-specific transcription initiation by hPol III. Here, we report the crystal structure of hRPC62. This subunit folds as a four-tandem extended winged helix (eWH) protein that is structurally related to the transcription factor TFIIEα N terminus. Through biochemical analyses, we mapped the protein-protein interactions of hRPC62, hRPC32 and hRPC39. In addition, we demonstrated that hRPC62 and hRPC39 bind single-stranded and duplex DNA, respectively, in a sequence-independent manner. Overall, we shed light on structural similarities between the hPol III-specific subunit hRPC62 and TFIIEα and propose specific functions for hRPC39 and hRPC62 in transcription initiation by hPol III.
authors.affiliation: Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lefèvre
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dumay-Odelot
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: El-Ayoubi
authors.forename: Aidan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Budd
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.forename: Noël
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pinaud
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teichmann
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fribourg
mesh_terms: D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012320:RNA Polymerase III / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII / Q000737:chemistry; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII; C066644:transcription factor TFIIE; D004247:DNA; D012320:RNA Polymerase III