Regulation of Ribosomal RNA Production by RNA Polymerase I: Does Elongation Come First?. (12th January 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Albert, Benjamin; Perez-Fernandez, Jorge; Léger-Silvestre, Isabelle; Gadal, Olivier
• Other Names: Chávez Sebastián Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Genetics research international. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-01-12
• Subjects: Genetics -- Research -- Periodicals; 576.5072
• DOI: 10.1155/2012/276948
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-3154

Abstract

Abstract : Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) production represents the most active transcription in the cell. Synthesis of the large rRNA precursors (35–47S) can be achieved by up to 150 RNA polymerase I (Pol I) enzymes simultaneously transcribing each rRNA gene. In this paper, we present recent advances made in understanding the regulatory mechanisms that control elongation. Built-in Pol I elongation factors, such as Rpa34/Rpa49 in budding yeast and PAF53/CAST in humans, are instrumental to the extremely high rate of rRNA production per gene. rRNA elongation mechanisms are intrinsically linked to chromatin structure and to the higher-order organization of the rRNA genes (rDNA). Factors such as Hmo1 in yeast and UBF1 in humans are key players in rDNA chromatin structure in vivo . Finally, elongation factors known to regulate messengers RNA production by RNA polymerase II are also involved in rRNA production and work cooperatively with Rpa49 in vivo .