The CTD Is Not Essential for the Post-Initiation Control of RNA Polymerase II Activity. Issue 19 (4th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gerber, Alan; Roeder, Robert G.
• Is Part Of: Journal of molecular biology. Volume 432:Issue 19(2020)
• Page Start: 5489
• Page End: 5498
• Publication Date: 2020-09-04
• Subjects: auxin degron -- RNA polymerase II -- C-terminal domain -- pause-release -- elongation; Pol II RNA polymerase II -- CTD C-terminal domain -- DA doxycycline plus auxin -- LDC LDC000067 -- ActD actinomycin D -- Trip triptolide; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Bacteriology -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Biologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Biologie -- Périodiques; Biochimie -- Périodiques; Moleculaire biologie; Biochemistry; Biology; Molecular biology; Periodicals; 572.805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.07.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2836

Abstract

Abstract: Interest in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the RPB1 subunit of the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) has been revived in recent years, owing to its numerous posttranslational modifications and its "phase-separation" properties. A large number of studies have shown that the status of CTD modifications is associated with the activity of Pol II during the transcription cycle. However, because this domain is essential in living cells, the functional requirement of the full CTD for the control of Pol II activity at endogenous mammalian genes has never been addressed directly in living cells. Using an inducible Pol II-degradation system that we previously established, we investigated here the roles of the CTD in the post-initiation control of Pol II. The selective ablation of the RPB1 CTD, post-initiation, at promoter-proximal pause-sites revealed that this domain, and by extension the CTD heptads and their modifications, is functionally neither absolutely required to maintain pausing in the absence of CDK9 activity nor essential for the release of Pol II into productive elongation. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: The CTD is not essential for promoter-proximal pause-release. Even in absence of the CTD, pause-release depends on CDK9 kinase activity. The CTD is not vital for productive Pol II transcription elongation. The CTD is required for normal RNA processing and transcription termination.