Biomaterial Database

RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription in trypanosomes is associated with a SNAP complex-like transcription factor. 2003

Anish Das, and Vivian Bellofatto

Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, International Center for Public Health, Newark 07103, USA.

Spliced leader RNA transcription is essential for cell viability in trypanosomes. The SL RNA genes are expressed from the only defined RNA polymerase II-dependent promoter identified to date in the trypanosome genome. The SL RNA gene promoter has been shown by in vitro and in vivo analyses to have a tripartite architecture. The upstream most cis-acting element, called PBP-1E, is located between 70 and 60 bp upstream from the transcription start site. This essential element functions along with two downstream elements to direct efficient and proper initiation of transcription. Electrophoretic mobility-shift studies detected a 122-kDa protein, called PBP-1, which interacts with PBP-1E. This protein is the first sequence-specific, double-stranded DNA-binding protein isolated in trypanosomes. Three polypeptides copurify with PBP-1 activity, suggesting that PBP-1 is composed of 57-, 46-, and 36-kDa subunits. We have cloned the genes that encode the 57- and 46-kDa subunits. The 46-kDa protein is a previously uncharacterized protein and may be unique to trypanosomes. Its predicted tertiary structure suggests it binds DNA as part of a complex. The 57-kDa subunit is orthologous to the human small nuclear RNA-activating protein (SNAP)50, which is an essential subunit of the SNAP complex (SNAPc). In human cells, SNAPc binds to the proximal sequence element in both RNA polymerase II- and III-dependent small nuclear RNA gene promoters. These findings identify a surprising link in the transcriptional machinery across a large evolutionary distance in the regulation of small nuclear RNA genes in eukaryotes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008969	Molecular Sequence Data	Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories.	Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D004268	DNA-Binding Proteins	Proteins which bind to DNA. The family includes proteins which bind to both double- and single-stranded DNA and also includes specific DNA binding proteins in serum which can be used as markers for malignant diseases.	DNA Helix Destabilizing Proteins,DNA-Binding Protein,Single-Stranded DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Binding Protein,DNA Single-Stranded Binding Protein,SS DNA BP,Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein,Binding Protein, DNA,DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Single Stranded Binding Protein,DNA-Binding Protein, Single-Stranded,Protein, DNA-Binding,Single Stranded DNA Binding Protein,Single Stranded DNA Binding Proteins
D006639	Histidine	An essential amino acid that is required for the production of HISTAMINE.	Histidine, L-isomer,L-Histidine,Histidine, L isomer,L-isomer Histidine
D000595	Amino Acid Sequence	The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION.	Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012319	RNA Polymerase II	A DNA-dependent RNA polymerase present in bacterial, plant, and animal cells. It functions in the nucleoplasmic structure and transcribes DNA into RNA. It has different requirements for cations and salt than RNA polymerase I and is strongly inhibited by alpha-amanitin. EC 2.7.7.6.	DNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase II,RNA Pol II,RNA Polymerase B,DNA Dependent RNA Polymerase II
D013698	Templates, Genetic	Macromolecular molds for the synthesis of complementary macromolecules, as in DNA REPLICATION; GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION of DNA to RNA, and GENETIC TRANSLATION of RNA into POLYPEPTIDES.	Genetic Template,Genetic Templates,Template, Genetic
D014157	Transcription Factors	Endogenous substances, usually proteins, which are effective in the initiation, stimulation, or termination of the genetic transcription process.	Transcription Factor,Factor, Transcription,Factors, Transcription
D014158	Transcription, Genetic	The biosynthesis of RNA carried out on a template of DNA. The biosynthesis of DNA from an RNA template is called REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION.	Genetic Transcription
D014345	Trypanosoma	A genus of flagellate protozoans found in the BLOOD and LYMPH of vertebrates and invertebrates, both hosts being required to complete the life cycle.	Nannomonas,Trypanosomes,Nannomona,Trypanosome