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

A newly recognized gamma herpesvirus known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) or human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) is present in Kaposi sarcomas and body-cavity-based lymphomas. Here we identify a novel abundant 1.2-kb RNA, polyadenylated nuclear RNA (PAN RNA), encoded by the virus. The majority of cDNAs produced from poly(A)-selected RNA isolated from a human body cavity lymphoma cell line 48 hr after butyrate induction of KSHV lytic replication represented PAN RNA. Within PAN RNA were two 9 and 16 nt stretches with 89% and 94% identity to U1 RNA. A third stretch of 14 nt was 93% complementary to U1. The 5' upstream region of PAN RNA contained both proximal and distal sequence elements characteristic of regulatory regions of U snRNAs, whereas the 3' end was polyadenylylated. PAN RNA was transcribed by RNA polymerase II, lacked a trimethylguanosine cap, and did not associate with polyribosomes. PAN RNA formed a speckled pattern in the nucleus typical of U snRNAs and colocalized with Sm protein. Therefore, PAN represents a new type of RNA, possessing features of both U snRNA and mRNA.
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PMID:Polyadenylylated nuclear RNA encoded by Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. 887 32

The regulation of gene transcription requires posttranslational modifications of histones that, in concert with chromatin remodeling factors, shape the structure of chromatin. It is currently under intense investigation how this structure is modulated, in particular in the context of proliferation and differentiation. Compelling evidence suggests that the transcription factor NF-Y acts as a master regulator of cell cycle progression, activating the transcription of many cell cycle regulatory genes. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet completely understood. Here we show that NF-Y exerts its effect on transcription through the modulation of the histone "code". NF-Y colocalizes with nascent RNA, while RNA polymerase II is I phosphorylated on serine 2 of the YSPTSPS repeats within its carboxyterminal domain and histones are carrying modifications that represent activation signals of gene expression (H3K9ac and PAN-H4ac). Comparing postmitotic muscle tissue from normal mice and proliferating muscles from mdx mice, we demonstrate by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) that NF-Y DNA binding activity correlates with the accumulation of acetylated histones H3 and H4 on promoters of key cell cycle regulatory genes, and with their active transcription. Accordingly, p300 is recruited onto the chromatin of NF-Y target genes in a NF-Y-dependent manner, as demonstrated by Re-ChIP. Conversely, the loss of NF-Y binding correlates with a decrease of acetylated histones, the recruitment of HDAC1, and a repressed heterochromatic state with enrichment of histones carrying modifications known to mediate silencing of gene expression (H3K9me3, H3K27me2 and H4K20me3). As a consequence, NF-Y target genes are downregulated in this context. In conclusion, our data indicate a role of NF-Y in modulating the structure and transcriptional competence of chromatin in vivo and support a model in which NF-Y-dependent histone "code" changes contribute to the proper discrimination between proliferating and postmitotic cells in vivo and in vitro.
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PMID:NF-Y dependent epigenetic modifications discriminate between proliferating and postmitotic tissue. 1843 4

Influenza is a yearly seasonal threat and major cause of mortality, particularly in children and the elderly. Although neuraminidase inhibitors and M2 protein blockers are used for medication, drug resistance has gradually emerged. Thus, the development of effective anti-influenza drugs targeting different constituent proteins of the virus is urgently desired. In this light, we carried out molecular docking to predict the binding modes of anti-influenza diketo acid inhibitors in the active site of the PAN subunit of the metalloenzyme RNA polymerase of influenza virus. The calculations suggested that the dianionic forms of the diketo acids should chelate the dinuclear manganese center as dinucleating ligands and sequester it. They also indicated that the diketo acid derivatives with larger hydrophobic substituents should block a hydrophobic cavity in the active site more tightly. These assumptions could adequately explain the enzyme inhibition by these compounds. Furthermore, we designed potential inhibitors by lead optimization of a diketo acid inhibitor from the thermodynamic points of view. Molecular docking results showed that the newly designed diketo acid derivatives might inhibit the metalloenzyme RNA polymerase more strongly than the lead inhibitor.
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PMID:Binding mode prediction and inhibitor design of anti-influenza virus diketo acids targeting metalloenzyme RNA polymerase by molecular docking. 2173 19

Transcription and replication of the negative-sense single-stranded influenza A virus genomic viral RNA are catalyzed by the viral RNA polymerase, which is a trimeric complex encoded by the three largest segments of the influenza virus genome: PB1, PB2, and PA. Numerous studies of the trimeric polymerase complex assembly have substantially contributed to current understanding of influenza virus replication. However, the dynamics of spatial and temporal macromolecular interactions involving virus and host proteins during the formation of the trimeric polymerase complex (PA-PB1-PB2) are still not completely understood. In this study, bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) and Raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS) were applied to monitor the interactions between PB1, PB2, and PA. The BiFC probes of PA-PB1 and PB1-PB2 could monitor the trimeric polymerase complex as well as the binary complex. Furthermore, the C-terminal domain of PA (PAC) promoted interaction between PB1 and PB2 in the cytoplasm and that the N-terminal domain of PA (PAN) inhibited the aberrant trimeric complex formation and assembly of higher-order oligomers induced by PAC in the cytoplasm. Taken together, these results revealed a novel function of PAN in the formation of the trimeric polymerase complexes of influenza A virus.
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PMID:A novel function of the N-terminal domain of PA in assembly of influenza A virus RNA polymerase. 2200 19