Genetic information is usually represented as linear arrays on chromosomes, yet nuclear DNA exists in a highly compacted form in which access to individual genes must be considered as a three-dimensional problem. Cytological evidence for a limited number of loci in several eukaryotes has suggested that localization of at least some genes is related to the transcriptional activity of the genes, and that this positioning can change in response to metabolic and developmental signals. Using the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we have recently shown that the 275 tRNA genes, although widely scattered in the linear genome, are gathered near the nucleolus throughout the cell cycle. This clustering of the tRNA genes, while potentially advantageous in terms of RNA polymerase III (pol III) transcriptional regulation and an ordered pre-Trna processing pathway, has striking implications for spatial organization of much of the yeast genome. The clustering is pol III transcription-dependent, and affects both recombinations between tRNA genes and nearby transcription by RNA polymerase II. In preliminary studies we have now shown that nucleolar tRNA gene localization is a two step process, with condensin-dependent clustering of the tRNA genes separable from microtubule-dependent localization of the clusters to the nucleolus. The near-term goal of this project is to characterize the mechanisms of this large-scale organization of the individual tRNA genes in yeast, to take advantage of the molecular genetic tools. In the longer term we will also investigate whether this phenomenon affects the behavior of RNA polymerase III transcription units in mammals. Genomes from humans and other vertebrates contain not only hundreds of tRNA genes, but hundreds of thousands of short interspersed DNA elements (SINEs) with tRNA-class promoters. Some of these short interspersed DNA elements (SINEs) are known to influence both nearby transcription by RNA polymerase II and recombination events that are associated with developmental abnormalities and cancers. We anticipate that understanding the spatial behavior of pol III transcription units could provide broad insights into constraints on genome organization and regulation.

Public Health Relevance

DNA in living cells is extremely condensed and packaged in a highly organized fashion. This packaging facilitates regulated retrieval of genetic information and affects DNA recombination events that can lead to cancers and developmental abnormalities. We have identified a type of abundant DNA element, distributed throughout genomes of higher cells, that both encodes small RNAs and serves as a three-dimensional organization signal. We are investigating the molecular mechanisms of this organization and the nature of the resulting DNA packaging.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM082875-03
Application #
7826939
Study Section
Nuclear Dynamics and Transport (NDT)
Program Officer
Tompkins, Laurie
Project Start
2008-07-01
Project End
2012-04-30
Budget Start
2010-05-01
Budget End
2011-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$296,464
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Read, David F; Waller, Thomas J; Tse, Eric et al. (2017) Aggregation of Mod5 is affected by tRNA binding with implications for tRNA gene-mediated silencing. FEBS Lett 591:1601-1610
Carrick, Brian H; Hao, Linxuan; Smaldino, Philip J et al. (2015) A Novel Recombinant DNA System for High Efficiency Affinity Purification of Proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. G3 (Bethesda) 6:573-8
Cahyani, Inswasti; Cridge, Andrew G; Engelke, David R et al. (2015) A sequence-specific interaction between the Saccharomyces cerevisiae rRNA gene repeats and a locus encoding an RNA polymerase I subunit affects ribosomal DNA stability. Mol Cell Biol 35:544-54
Pai, Dave A; Kaplan, Craig D; Kweon, Hye Kyong et al. (2014) RNAs nonspecifically inhibit RNA polymerase II by preventing binding to the DNA template. RNA 20:644-55
Good, Paul D; Kendall, Ann; Ignatz-Hoover, James et al. (2013) Silencing near tRNA genes is nucleosome-mediated and distinct from boundary element function. Gene 526:7-15
O'Sullivan, Justin M; Pai, Dave A; Cridge, Andrew G et al. (2013) The nucleolus: a raft adrift in the nuclear sea or the keystone in nuclear structure? Biomol Concepts 4:277-86
Walker, Scott C; Good, Paul D; Gipson, Theresa A et al. (2011) The dual use of RNA aptamer sequences for affinity purification and localization studies of RNAs and RNA-protein complexes. Methods Mol Biol 714:423-44
Rodley, Chris D M; Pai, Dave A; Mills, Tyrone A et al. (2011) tRNA gene identity affects nuclear positioning. PLoS One 6:e29267
Pai, Dave A; Engelke, David R (2010) Spatial organization of genes as a component of regulated expression. Chromosoma 119:13-25
Srisawat, Chatchawan; Engelke, David R (2010) Selection of RNA aptamers that bind HIV-1 LTR DNA duplexes: strand invaders. Nucleic Acids Res 38:8306-15

Showing the most recent 10 out of 14 publications