Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.6 (RNA polymerase)
34,946 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Regulated transcription initiation requires, in addition to RNA polymerase II and the general transcription factors, accessory factors termed mediators or adapters. We have used affinity chromatography to identify a collection of factors that associate with Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA polymerase II (P. A. Wade, W. Werel, R. C. Fentzke, N. E. Thompson, J. F. Leykam, R. R. Burgess, J. A. Jaehning, and Z. F. Burton, submitted for publication). Here we report identification and characterization of a gene encoding one of these factors, PAF1 (for RNA polymerase-associated factor 1). PAF1 encodes a novel, highly charged protein of 445 amino acids. Disruption of PAF1 in S. cerevisiae leads to pleiotropic phenotypic traits, including slow growth, temperature sensitivity, and abnormal cell morphology. Consistent with a possible role in transcription, Paf1p is localized to the nucleus. By comparing the abundances of many yeast transcripts in isogenic wild-type and paf1 mutant strains, we have identified genes whose expression is affected by PAF1. In particular, disruption of PAF1 decreases the induction of the galactose-regulated genes three- to fivefold. In contrast, the transcript level of MAK16, an essential gene involved in cell cycle regulation, is greatly increased in the paf1 mutant strain. Paf1p may therefore be required for both positive and negative regulation of subsets of yeast genes. Like Paf1p, the GAL11 gene product is found associated with RNA polymerase II and is required for regulated expression of many yeast genes including those controlled by galactose. We have found that a gal11 paf1 double mutant has a much more severe growth defect than either of the single mutants, indicating that these two proteins may function in parallel pathways to communicate signals from regulatory factors to RNA polymerase II.
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PMID:Paf1p, an RNA polymerase II-associated factor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, may have both positive and negative roles in transcription. 855 95

A relatively simple subset of general transcription factors is sufficient for transcript initiation by RNA polymerase II. However, a recently identified "holoenzyme" contains additional accessory proteins required for mediating signals from some activators (Y-J. Kim et al., 1994, Cell 77, 599-608; A. Koleske and R. Young, 1994, Nature 368, 466-469). By immobilizing RNA polymerase II and associated proteins (RAPs) from a transcriptionally active yeast extract, we have identified a novel collection of proteins distinct from those found in the holoenzyme. The eluted RAP fraction did not contain the holoenzyme components Srb2,4,5 + 6p, Gal11p, or Sug1p, but did include the known transcription factors TFIIB and TFIIS and the three subunits of yeast TFIIF (Ssu71p/Tfg1p, Tfg2p, and Anc1p/Tfg3p). Also isolated as RAPs are two proteins (Cdc73p and Paf1p) with interesting connections to gene expression. Mutations in CDC73 and PAF1 affect cell growth and the abundance of transcripts from a subset of yeast genes (X. Shi et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 1996 16, 669-676). The RAP fraction may therefore define one or more functional forms of RNA polymerase II distinct from the activator-mediating holoenzyme.
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PMID:A novel collection of accessory factors associated with yeast RNA polymerase II. 881 38

The products of the yeast CDC73 and PAF1 genes were originally identified as RNA polymerase II-associated proteins. Paf1p is a nuclear protein important for cell growth and transcriptional regulation of a subset of yeast genes. In this study we demonstrate that the product of CDC73 is a nuclear protein that interacts directly with purified RNA polymerase II in vitro. Deletion of CDC73 confers a temperature-sensitive phenotype. Combination of the cdc73 mutation with the more severe paf1 mutation does not result in an enhanced phenotype, indicating that the two proteins may function in the same cellular processes. To determine the relationship between Cdc73p and Paf1p and the recently described holoenzyme form of RNA polymerase II, we created yeast strains containing glutathione S-transferase (GST)-tagged forms of CDC73, PAF1, and TFG2 functionally replacing the chromosomal copies of the genes. Isolation of GST-tagged Cdc73p and Paf1p complexes has revealed a unique form of RNA polymerase II that contains both Cdc73p and Paf1p but lacks the Srbps found in the holoenzyme. The Cdc73p-Paf1p-RNA polymerase II-containing complex also includes Gal11p, and the general initiation factors TFIIB and TFIIF, but lacks TBP, TFIIH, and transcription elongation factor TFIIS as well as the Srbps. The Srbp-containing holoenzyme does not include either Paf1p or Cdc73p, demonstrating that these two forms of RNA polymerase II are distinct. In confirmation of the hypothesis that the two forms coexist in yeast cells, we found that a TFIIF-containing complex isolated via the GST-tagged Tfg2p construct contains both (i) the Srbps and (ii) Cdc73p and Paf1p. The Srbps and Cdc73p-Paf1p therefore appear to define two complexes with partially redundant, essential functions in the yeast cell. Using the technique of differential display, we have identified several genes whose transcripts require Cdc73p and/or Paf1p for normal levels of expression. Our analysis suggests that there are multiple RNA polymerase II-containing complexes involved in the expression of different classes of protein-coding genes.
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PMID:Cdc73p and Paf1p are found in a novel RNA polymerase II-containing complex distinct from the Srbp-containing holoenzyme. 903 43

Yeast contains at least two complex forms of RNA polymerase II (Pol II), one including the Srbps and a second biochemically distinct form defined by the presence of Paf1p and Cdc73p (X. Shi et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 17:1160-1169, 1997). In this work we demonstrate that Ccr4p and Hpr1p are components of the Paf1p-Cdc73p-Pol II complex. We have found many synthetic genetic interactions between factors within the Paf1p-Cdc73p complex, including the lethality of paf1Delta ccr4Delta, paf1Delta hpr1Delta, ccr4Delta hpr1Delta, and ccr4Delta gal11Delta double mutants. In addition, paf1Delta and ccr4Delta are lethal in combination with srb5Delta, indicating that the factors within and between the two RNA polymerase II complexes have overlapping essential functions. We have used differential display to identify several genes whose expression is affected by mutations in components of the Paf1p-Cdc73p-Pol II complex. Additionally, as previously observed for hpr1Delta, deleting PAF1 or CDC73 leads to elevated recombination between direct repeats. The paf1Delta and ccr4Delta mutations, as well as gal11Delta, demonstrate sensitivity to cell wall-damaging agents, rescue of the temperature-sensitive phenotype by sorbitol, and reduced expression of genes involved in cell wall biosynthesis. This unusual combination of effects on recombination and cell wall integrity has also been observed for mutations in genes in the Pkc1p-Mpk1p kinase cascade. Consistent with a role for this novel form of RNA polymerase II in the Pkc1p-Mpk1p signaling pathway, we find that paf1Delta mpk1Delta and paf1Delta pkc1Delta double mutants do not demonstrate an enhanced phenotype relative to the single mutants. Our observation that the Mpk1p kinase is fully active in a paf1Delta strain indicates that the Paf1p-Cdc73p complex may function downstream of the Pkc1p-Mpk1p cascade to regulate the expression of a subset of yeast genes.
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PMID:A complex containing RNA polymerase II, Paf1p, Cdc73p, Hpr1p, and Ccr4p plays a role in protein kinase C signaling. 989 Oct 41

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Paf1-RNA polymerase II (Pol II) complex is biochemically and functionally distinct from the Srb-mediator form of Pol II holoenzyme and is required for full expression of a subset of genes. In this work we have used tandem affinity purification tags to isolate the Paf1 complex and mass spectrometry to identify additional components. We have established that Ctr9, Rtf1, and Leo1 are factors that associate with Paf1, Cdc73, and Pol II, but not with the Srb-mediator. Deletion of either PAF1 or CTR9 leads to similar severe pleiotropic phenotypes, which are unaltered when the two mutations are combined. In contrast, we found that deletion of LEO1 or RTF1 leads to few obvious phenotypes, although mutation of RTF1 suppresses mutations in TATA-binding protein, alters transcriptional start sites, and affects elongation. Remarkably, deletion of LEO1 or RTF1 suppresses many paf1Delta phenotypes. In particular, an rtf1Delta paf1Delta double mutant grew faster, was less temperature sensitive, and was more resistant to caffeine and hydroxyurea than a paf1Delta single mutant. In addition, expression of the G(1) cyclin CLN1, reduced nearly threefold in paf1Delta, is restored to wild-type levels in the rtf1Delta paf1Delta double mutant. We suggest that lack of Paf1 results in a defective complex and a block in transcription, which is relieved by removal of Leo1 or Rtf1.
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PMID:Ctr9, Rtf1, and Leo1 are components of the Paf1/RNA polymerase II complex. 1188 86

Inactivation of the HRPT2 tumor suppressor gene is associated with the pathogenesis of the hereditary hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome and malignancy in sporadic parathyroid tumors. The cellular function of the HPRT2 gene product, parafibromin, has not been defined yet. Here we show that parafibromin physically interacts with human orthologs of yeast Paf1 complex components, including PAF1, LEO1, and CTR9, that are involved in transcription elongation and 3' end processing. It also associates with modified forms of the large subunit of RNA polymerase II, in particular those phosphorylated on serine 5 or 2 within the carboxy-terminal domain, that are important for the coordinate recruitment of transcription elongation and RNA processing machineries during the transcription cycle. These interactions depend on a C-terminal domain of parafibromin, which is deleted in ca. 80% of clinically relevant mutations. Finally, RNAi-induced downregulation of parafibromin promotes entry into S phase, implying a role for parafibromin as an inhibitor of cell cycle progression. Taken together, these findings link the tumor suppressor parafibromin to the transcription elongation and RNA processing pathway as a PAF1 complex- and RNA polymerase II-bound protein. Dysfunction of this pathway may be a general phenomenon in the majority of cases of hereditary parathyroid cancer.
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PMID:The HRPT2 tumor suppressor gene product parafibromin associates with human PAF1 and RNA polymerase II. 1592 22

Protein kinases orthologous with Cak1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScCak1) appear specific to ascomycetes. ScCak1 phosphorylates Cdc28, the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) governing the cell cycle, as well as Kin28, Bur1 and Ctk1, CDKs required for the transcription process performed by RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II). Using genetic methods, we found that Cak1 genetically interacts with Paf1 and Ctr9, two components belonging to the PAF1 elongation complex needed for histone modifications, and with Ssu72, a protein phosphatase that dephosphorylates serine-5 phosphate in the RNA Pol II C-terminal domain. We present evidence suggesting that the interactions linking Cak1 with the PAF1 complex and with Ssu72 are not direct but mediated via Ctk1 and Bur1. We discuss the possibility that Ssu72 intervenes at the capping checkpoint step of the transcription cycle.
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PMID:Kinase Cak1 functionally interacts with the PAF1 complex and phosphatase Ssu72 via kinases Ctk1 and Bur1. 1636 71

Parafibromin is a tumor suppressor protein encoded by HRPT2, a gene recently implicated in the hereditary hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome, parathyroid cancer, and a subset of kindreds with familial isolated hyperparathyroidism. Human parafibromin binds to RNA polymerase II as part of a PAF1 transcriptional regulatory complex. The mechanism by which loss of parafibromin function can lead to neoplastic transformation is poorly understood. Because the subcellular localization of parafibromin is likely to be critical for its function with the nuclear PAF1 complex, we sought to experimentally define the nuclear localization signal (NLS) of parafibromin and examine its potential role in parafibromin function. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we define a dominant bipartite NLS and a secondary NLS, both in the NH(2)-terminal region of parafibromin whose combined mutation nearly abolishes nuclear targeting. The NLS-mutant parafibromin is significantly impaired in its association with endogenous Paf1 and Leo1. We further report that overexpression of wild-type but not NLS-mutant parafibromin induces apoptosis in transfected cells. Inhibition of endogenous parafibromin expression by RNA interference inhibits the basal rate of apoptosis and apoptosis resulting from DNA damage induced by camptothecin, a topoisomerase I inhibitor. These experiments identify for the first time a proapoptotic activity of endogenous parafibromin likely to be important in its role as a tumor suppressor and show a functional role for the NLS of parafibromin in this activity.
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PMID:Nuclear localization of the parafibromin tumor suppressor protein implicated in the hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome enhances its proapoptotic function. 1731 75

Parafibromin is a tumor suppressor protein encoded by HRPT2, a gene recently implicated in the hereditary hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome, parathyroid cancer, and a subset of kindreds with familial isolated hyperparathyroidism. Human parafibromin binds to RNA polymerase II as part of a PAF1 transcriptional regulatory complex. The physiologic targets of parafibromin and the mechanism by which its loss of function can lead to neoplastic transformation are poorly understood. We show here that RNA interference with the expression of parafibromin or Paf1 stimulates cell proliferation and increases levels of the c-myc proto-oncogene product, a DNA-binding protein and established regulator of cell growth. This effect results from both c-myc protein stabilization and activation of the c-myc promoter, without alleviation of the c-myc transcriptional pause. Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrates the occupancy of the c-myc promoter by parafibromin and other PAF1 complex subunits in native cells. Knockdown of c-myc blocks the proliferative effect of RNA interference with parafibromin or Paf1 expression. These experiments provide a previously uncharacterized mechanism for the anti-proliferative action of the parafibromin tumor suppressor protein resulting from PAF1 complex-mediated inhibition of the c-myc proto-oncogene.
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PMID:The parafibromin tumor suppressor protein inhibits cell proliferation by repression of the c-myc proto-oncogene. 1898 11

Regulation of RNA polymerase I (Pol I) transcription is critical for controlling ribosome synthesis. Most previous investigations into Pol I transcription regulation have focused on transcription initiation. To date, the factors involved in the control of Pol I transcription elongation are poorly understood. The Paf1 complex (Paf1C) is a well-defined factor that influences polymerase II (Pol II) transcription elongation. We found that Paf1C associates with rDNA. Deletion of genes for Paf1C subunits (CDC73, CTR9, or PAF1) reduces the rRNA synthesis rate; however, there is no significant alteration of rDNA copy number or Pol I occupancy of the rDNA. Furthermore, EM analysis revealed a substantial increase in the frequency of large gaps between transcribing polymerases in ctr9Delta mutant cells compared with WT. Together, these data indicate that Paf1C promotes Pol I transcription through the rDNA by increasing the net rate of elongation. Thus, the multifunctional, conserved transcription factor Paf1C plays an important role in transcription elongation by Pol I in vivo.
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PMID:The Paf1 complex is required for efficient transcription elongation by RNA polymerase I. 1916 65


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