Architecture of an RNA polymerase II transcription pre-initiation complex.
The protein density and arrangement of subunits of a complete, 32-protein, RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcription pre-initiation complex (PIC) were determined by means of cryogenic electron microscopy and a combination of chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry. The PIC showed a marked division in two parts, one containing all the general transcription factors (GTFs) and the other pol II. Promoter DNA was associated only with the GTFs, suspended above the pol II cleft and not in contact with pol II. This structural principle of the PIC underlies its conversion to a transcriptionally active state; the PIC is poised for the formation of a transcription bubble and descent of the DNA into the pol II cleft.
Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Kenji
K
Murakami
Hans
H
Elmlund
Nir
N
Kalisman
David A
DA
Bushnell
Christopher M
CM
Adams
Maia
M
Azubel
Dominika
D
Elmlund
Yael
Y
Levi-Kalisman
Xin
X
Liu
Brian J
BJ
Gibbons
Michael
M
Levitt
Roger D
RD
Kornberg
D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000737:chemistry*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D035165:Transcription Factors, General / Q000737:chemistry*; D061785:Transcription Initiation, Genetic
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D035165:Transcription Factors, General; D012319:RNA Polymerase II