title: Divergence of a conserved elongation factor and transcription regulation in budding and fission yeast.
abstract: Complex regulation of gene expression in mammals has evolved from simpler eukaryotic systems, yet the mechanistic features of this evolution remain elusive. Here, we compared the transcriptional landscapes of the distantly related budding and fission yeast. We adapted the Precision Run-On sequencing (PRO-seq) approach to map the positions of RNA polymerase active sites genome-wide in Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Additionally, we mapped preferred sites of transcription initiation in each organism using PRO-cap. Unexpectedly, we identify a pause in early elongation, specific to S. pombe, that requires the conserved elongation factor subunit Spt4 and resembles promoter-proximal pausing in metazoans. PRO-seq profiles in strains lacking Spt4 reveal globally elevated levels of transcribing RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) within genes in both species. Messenger RNA abundance, however, does not reflect the increases in Pol II density, indicating a global reduction in elongation rate. Together, our results provide the first base-pair resolution map of transcription elongation in S. pombe and identify divergent roles for Spt4 in controlling elongation in budding and fission yeast.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-2703, USA;
authors.forename: Gregory T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.affiliation: Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Isabel X
authors.initials: IX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Vivian G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-2703, USA;
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lis
mesh_terms: D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000502:physiology; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics*; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D009707:Nucleosomes; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D012319:RNA Polymerase II