Transcription regulation during stable elongation by a reversible halt of RNA polymerase II.
Regulation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) during transcription is essential for controlling gene expression. Here we report that the transcriptional activity of RNAPII at the Balbiani ring 2.1 gene could be halted during stable elongation in salivary gland cells of Chironomus tentans larvae for extended time periods in a regulated manner. The transcription halt was triggered by heat shock and affected all RNAPII independently of their position in the gene. During the halt, incomplete transcripts and RNAPII remained at the transcription site, the phosphorylation state of RNAPII was unaltered, and the transcription bubbles remained open. The transcription of halted transcripts was resumed upon relief of the heat shock. The observed mechanism allows cells to interrupt transcription for extended time periods and rapidly reactivate it without the need to reinitiate transcription of the complete gene. Our results suggest a so-far-unknown level of transcriptional control in eukaryotic cells.
Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
Tim Patrick
TP
Kaminski
Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
Jan Peter
JP
Siebrasse
Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany u.kubitscheck@uni-bonn.de.
Ulrich
U
Kubitscheck
D000818:Animals; D002683:Chironomidae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018869:Heat-Shock Response; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D012319:RNA Polymerase II