Eukaryotic RNA polymerase III is responsible for the transcription of many small RNA molecules, including all cytoplasmic tRNAs. Primary recognition specificity of tRNA genes by the PolIII transcription complex resides in two or more proteins which are present in chromatin but can be separated from RNA polymerase III in whole cell extracts. Formation of a pre-initiation complex between a tRNA gene and these proteins is prevented by mutations which alter sequences within the Dihydro U and T Psi arms of tRNA coding sequence. The goal of this research project is to dissect apart and identify the various DNA-protein interactions which occur during the initiation and termination of transcription of eukaryotic tRNA genes. Ochre-suppressor tRNA genes in yeast provide unique opportunities to isolate and study both mutations in tRNA genes that affect transcription and mutations in genes for protein components that interact with the genes during transcription. It is envisioned that the genetic analysis of such mutations affecting expression of the yeast SUP4 tRNATyr gene, together with biochemical studies of the proteins affected by these mutations, will provide new insights into the transcription process. As this approach is developed, it should also be applicable to molecular genetic analysis of the function of RNA Polymerase II, the enzyme which makes mRNA in yeast and other eukaryotes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM011895-24
Application #
3268310
Study Section
Genetics Study Section (GEN)
Project Start
1975-01-01
Project End
1990-04-30
Budget Start
1987-05-01
Budget End
1988-04-30
Support Year
24
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
135646524
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Zecherle, G N; Whelen, S; Hall, B D (1996) Purines are required at the 5' ends of newly initiated RNAs for optimal RNA polymerase III gene expression. Mol Cell Biol 16:5801-10
Aldrich, T L; Di Segni, G; McConaughy, B L et al. (1993) Structure of the yeast TAP1 protein: dependence of transcription activation on the DNA context of the target gene. Mol Cell Biol 13:3434-44
Di Segni, G; McConaughy, B L; Shapiro, R A et al. (1993) TAP1, a yeast gene that activates the expression of a tRNA gene with a defective internal promoter. Mol Cell Biol 13:3424-33
Furter, R; Snaith, M; Gillespie, D E et al. (1992) Endonucleolytic cleavage of a long 3'-trailer sequence in a nuclear yeast suppressor tRNA. Biochemistry 31:10817-24
Furter-Graves, E M; Furter, R; Hall, B D (1991) SHI, a new yeast gene affecting the spacing between TATA and transcription initiation sites. Mol Cell Biol 11:4121-7
James, P; Whelen, S; Hall, B D (1991) The RET1 gene of yeast encodes the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase III. Structural analysis of the wild-type and ret1-1 mutant alleles. J Biol Chem 266:5616-24
Furter-Graves, E M; Hall, B D (1990) DNA sequence elements required for transcription initiation of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe ADH gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Gen Genet 223:407-16
James, P; Hall, B D (1990) ret1-1, a yeast mutant affecting transcription termination by RNA polymerase III. Genetics 125:293-303
Baker, R E; Camier, S; Sentenac, A et al. (1987) Gene size differentially affects the binding of yeast transcription factor tau to two intragenic regions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 84:8768-72
Hampsey, D M; Koski, R A; Sherman, F (1986) Highly mutable sites for ICR-170-induced frameshift mutations are associated with potential DNA hairpin structures: studies with SUP4 and other Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes. Mol Cell Biol 6:4425-32

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