The transcription process in eukaryotic cells is controlled by the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II through its post-translational modification states. However enzymes that recognize the same phosphorylation site in CTD can lead to different transcriptional outcomes. To address the central question that how gene-specific regulation was achieved by CTD regulatory enzymes; we investigate the structure function mechanism of Scp, a human CTD Ser5 phosphatase that functions as a co-repressor for neuronal gene expression. By comparing gene-specific CTD phosphatase Scp, to general-transcription CTD phosphatase Ssu72, we will test two different yet not mutually exclusive hypotheses to explain the differentiated transcription outcomes: molecular targeting and gene-specific CTD code. Finally, we will identify neuronal genes that are subject to Scp regulation and develop chemical tools to investigate the gene expression cascade during neurogenesis. The research breaks new ground in understanding CTD-directed transcription regulation. The chemical compounds developed in this study will become powerful tools to understand the biological mechanism of neuronal stem cell differentiation. Finally, the study of Scp-directed gene silencing in various cell types pave the way to establish if Scp can be a valid drug target for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Public Health Relevance

In this proposal, we target a human neuronal silencing protein to promote neuron regeneration. We investigate the molecular mechanisms for the regulation of this enzyme in order to achieve selective inactivation to direct neurogenesis. The compounds developed in this research will become powerful tool to study neuron development and eventually greatly benefit patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM104896-03
Application #
8840275
Study Section
Macromolecular Structure and Function E Study Section (MSFE)
Program Officer
Barski, Oleg
Project Start
2013-08-01
Project End
2018-04-30
Budget Start
2015-05-01
Budget End
2016-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$275,325
Indirect Cost
$85,325
Name
University of Texas Austin
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
170230239
City
Austin
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78712
Burkholder, Nathaniel Tate; Mayfield, Joshua E; Yu, Xiaohua et al. (2018) Phosphatase activity of small C-terminal domain phosphatase 1 (SCP1) controls the stability of the key neuronal regulator RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST). J Biol Chem 293:16851-16861
Irani, Seema; Naowarojna, Nathchar; Tang, Yang et al. (2018) Snapshots of C-S Cleavage in Egt2 Reveals Substrate Specificity and Reaction Mechanism. Cell Chem Biol 25:519-529.e4
Lee, Chang-Han; Romain, Gabrielle; Yan, Wupeng et al. (2017) IgG Fc domains that bind C1q but not effector Fc? receptors delineate the importance of complement-mediated effector functions. Nat Immunol 18:889-898
Cramer, Shira L; Saha, Achinto; Liu, Jinyun et al. (2017) Systemic depletion of L-cyst(e)ine with cyst(e)inase increases reactive oxygen species and suppresses tumor growth. Nat Med 23:120-127
Mayfield, Joshua E; Robinson, Michelle R; Cotham, Victoria C et al. (2017) Mapping the Phosphorylation Pattern of Drosophila melanogaster RNA Polymerase II Carboxyl-Terminal Domain Using Ultraviolet Photodissociation Mass Spectrometry. ACS Chem Biol 12:153-162
Yan, Wupeng; Stone, Everett; Zhang, Yan Jessie (2017) Structural Snapshots of an Engineered Cystathionine-?-lyase Reveal the Critical Role of Electrostatic Interactions in the Active Site. Biochemistry 56:876-885
Gibbs, Eric B; Lu, Feiyue; Portz, Bede et al. (2017) Phosphorylation induces sequence-specific conformational switches in the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain. Nat Commun 8:15233
Portz, Bede; Lu, Feiyue; Gibbs, Eric B et al. (2017) Structural heterogeneity in the intrinsically disordered RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain. Nat Commun 8:15231
Irani, Seema; Yogesha, S D; Mayfield, Joshua et al. (2016) Structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rtr1 reveals an active site for an atypical phosphatase. Sci Signal 9:ra24
Li, Wenzong; Irani, Seema; Crutchfield, Amanda et al. (2016) Intramolecular Cleavage of the hASRGL1 Homodimer Occurs in Two Stages. Biochemistry 55:960-9

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