PPM1G Binds 7SK RNA and Hexim1 To Block P-TEFb Assembly into the 7SK snRNP and Sustain Transcription Elongation.
Transcription elongation programs are vital for the precise regulation of several biological processes. One key regulator of such programs is the P-TEFb kinase, which phosphorylates RNA polymerase II (Pol II) once released from the inhibitory 7SK small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) complex. Although mechanisms of P-TEFb release from the snRNP are becoming clearer, how P-TEFb remains in the 7SK-unbound state to sustain transcription elongation programs remains unknown. Here we report that the PPM1G phosphatase (inducibly recruited by nuclear factor κB [NF-κB] to target promoters) directly binds 7SK RNA and the kinase inhibitor Hexim1 once P-TEFb has been released from the 7SK snRNP. This dual binding activity of PPM1G blocks P-TEFb reassembly onto the snRNP to sustain NF-κB-mediated Pol II transcription in response to DNA damage. Notably, the PPM1G-7SK RNA interaction is direct, kinetically follows the recruitment of PPM1G to promoters to activate NF-κB transcription, and is reversible, since the complex disassembles before resolution of the program. Strikingly, we found that the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase regulates the interaction between PPM1G and the 7SK snRNP through site-specific PPM1G phosphorylation. The precise and temporally regulated interaction of a cellular enzyme and a noncoding RNA provides a new paradigm for simultaneously controlling the activation and maintenance of inducible transcription elongation programs.
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Swapna Aravind
SA
Gudipaty
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Ryan P
RP
McNamara
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Emily L
EL
Morton
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA Ivan.Dorso@utsouthwestern.edu.
Iván
I
D'Orso
D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D042925:Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D000071636:Protein Phosphatase 2C; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
C476123:HEXIM1 protein, human; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D042925:Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D012319:RNA Polymerase II; C000607460:PPM1G protein, human; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D000071636:Protein Phosphatase 2C