title: Phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II is independent of P-TEFb in the C. elegans germline.
abstract: RNA polymerase II (Pol II) elongation in metazoans is thought to require phosphorylation of serine 2 (Ser2-P) of the Pol II C-terminal domain (CTD) by the P-TEFb complex, CDK-9/cyclin T. Another Ser2 kinase complex, CDK-12/cyclin K, which requires upstream CDK-9 activity has been identified in Drosophila and human cells. We show that regulation of Ser2-P in C. elegans soma is similar to other metazoan systems, but Ser2-P in the germline is independent of CDK-9, and largely requires only CDK-12. The observed differences are not due to differential tissue expression as both kinases and their cyclin partners are ubiquitously expressed. Surprisingly, loss of CDK-9 from germ cells has little effect on Ser2-P, yet CDK-9 is essential for germline development. By contrast, loss of CDK-12 and Ser2-P specifically from germ cells has little impact on germline development or function, although significant loss of co-transcriptional H3K36 trimethylation is observed. These results show a reduced requirement for Pol II Ser2-P in germline development and suggest that generating Ser2-P is not the essential role of CDK-9 in these cells. Transcriptional elongation in the C. elegans germline thus appears to be uniquely regulated, which may be a novel facet of germline identity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Anne
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Christopher Ray
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Jeong H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000201:enzymology*; D052284:Clutch Size; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010766:Phosphorylation; D042925:Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012694:Serine; D042925:Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D012319:RNA Polymerase II
keywords: C. elegans; CDK-12; CDK-9
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