Abstract
AN array of tandem heptapeptide repeats at the carboxv -terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II constitute a highly conserved structure essential for viability1á¤-3. Studies have established that the CTD is phosphorylated at different stages of the transcription cycle4á¤-7, and that it may be involved in transcriptional regulation8á¤-12. The exact role of the CTD remains elusive, as in vitro reconstituted transcription using the adenovirus major late promoter does not require the CTD13,14. Previous studies7,15,16 showed that transcription from the murine dihydro-folate reductase (DHFR) promoter can be only accomplished by the form of RNA polymerase II that contains the hypophosphoryl-ated CTD (RNAPIIA), but not by the form that lacks it (RNAPIIB)7. Here we show that the CTD, but not its phosphoryla-tion, is required for initiation of transcription. We also show that transcription requires CTD kinase activity provided by the CDK7 subunit of TFIIH17á¤-19.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Nonet, M., Sweetser, D. & Young, R. A. Cell 50, 909–915 (1987).
Allison, L. A., Wong, J. K., Fitzpatrick, V. D., Moyle, M. & Ingles, C. J. Molec. cell. Biol. 8, 321–329 (1988).
Bartolomei, M. S., Halden, N. F., Cullen, C. A. & Corden, J. L. Molec. cell. Biol. 8, 330–339 (1988).
Lu, H., Flores, O., Weinmann, R. & Reinberg, D. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 10004–10008 (1991).
O'Brien, T., Hardin, S., Greenleaf, A. & Lis, J. T. Nature 370, 75–77 (1994).
Young, R. A. A. Rev. Biochem. 60, 689–715 (1991).
Kang, M. E. & Dahmus, M. E. J. biol. Chem. 268, 25033–25040 (1993).
Allison, L. A. & Ingles, C. J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A 86, 2794–2798 (1989).
Scafe, C. et al. Nature 347, 491–494 (1990).
Gerber H.-P. et al. Nature 374, 660–662 (1995).
Koleske, A. J. & Young, R. A. Nature 368, 466–469 (1994).
Kim, Y. J., Bjorklund, S., Li, Y., Sayre, M. H. & Kornberg, R. D. Cell 77, 599–608 (1994).
Kim, W. Y. & Dahmus, M. E. J. biol. Chem. 264, 3169–3176 (1989).
Serizawa, H., Conaway, J. W. & Conaway, R. C. Nature 363, 371–374 (1993).
Thompson, N. E., Steinberg, T. H., Aronson, D. B. & Burgess, R. R. J. biol. Chem. 264, 11511–11520 (1989).
Buermeyer, A. B., Thompson, N. E., Strasheim, L. A., Burgess, R. R. & Farnham, P. J., Molec. cell. Biol. 12, 2250–2259 (1992).
Roy, R. et al. Cell 79, 1093–1101 (1994).
Serizawa, H. et al. Nature 374, 280–282 (1995).
Shiekhattar, R. et al. Nature 374, 283–287 (1995).
Goodrich, G. & Tijian Cell 77, 145–156 (1994).
Dahmus, M. E. & Dynan, W. S. in Transcriptional Regulation Vol. 1 (eds Yamamoto, K. & McKnight, S.) 109–129 (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York, 1992).
McClure, W. R. A. Rev. Biochem. 54, 171–204 (1985).
Lu, H., Zawel, L., Fisher, L., Egly, M. & Reinberg, D. Nature 358, 641–645 (1992).
Drapkin, R. & Reinberg, D. Trends biochem. Sci. 19, 504–508 (1994).
Makela, T. P. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92, 5174–5178 (1995).
Drapkin, R. et al. Nature 368, 769–772 (1994).
Flores, O., Lu, H. & Reinberg, D. J. biol. Chem. 267, 2786–2793 (1992).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Akoulitchev, S., Mäkelä, T., Weinberg, R. et al. Requirement for TFIIH kinase activity in transcription by RNA polymerase II. Nature 377, 557–560 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/377557a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/377557a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
