Transcriptional regulation involves an interplay between regulatory proteins and the general transcriptional machinery and is a key mechanism for control of many biological processes. Coordination of gene expression is critical for healthy development, differentiation, immune responses, and the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Disruptions in the program of transcriptional regulation are observed in many diseased states such as cancer. Therefore, it is important to develop an understanding of fundamental transcriptional mechanisms. The long-term objective of this study is to understand how eukaryotic basal transcription factors function in transcription and gene regulation. The model system that the principal investigator uses is the transcription of human small nuclear (sn) RNA genes. The snRNA gene family represents a large collection of genes that have important functions in the cell. These genes have similar promoter architectures and yet RNA polymerase II transcribes some of these genes while RNA polymerase III transcribes others. Thus, these genes offer a powerful system to analyze the molecular mechanisms of transcription for both RNA polymerase II and III. Transcription of human snRNA genes, regardless of polymerase specificity, requires the basal transcription factor referred to as snRNA activating protein complex (SNAPc). This multi-protein complex binds specifically to the core-promoter regions of human snRNA genes. SNAPc is composed of at least five proteins SNAP 19, SNAP43, SNAP45, SNAP5O, and SNAP 190. In addition, the TATA-box binding protein (TBP) co-purifies with SNAPc. Each of these proteins is required for snRNA transcription by both RNA polymerases II and III. These proteins also contribute to the regulated transcription of human snRNA genes. Human U6 gene transcription by RNA polymerase III is repressed by the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (Rb) and this may involve communication between Rb and SNAPc. The principal investigator has chosen to study SNAPc because this complex plays a key role in human snRNA gene transcription by both RNA polymerases II and III and is a direct target of regulatory proteins such as Rb. This project will employ molecular techniques to understand the function of individual members of SNAPc for regulated transcription by RNA polymerases II and III.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM059805-02
Application #
6520075
Study Section
Biochemistry Study Section (BIO)
Program Officer
Tompkins, Laurie
Project Start
2001-03-01
Project End
2006-02-28
Budget Start
2002-03-01
Budget End
2003-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$191,995
Indirect Cost
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824
Gjidoda, Alison; Henry, R William (2013) RNA polymerase III repression by the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein. Biochim Biophys Acta 1829:385-92
Selvakumar, Tharakeswari; Gjidoda, Alison; Hovde, Stacy L et al. (2012) Regulation of human RNA polymerase III transcription by DNMT1 and DNMT3a DNA methyltransferases. J Biol Chem 287:7039-50
Jawdekar, Gauri W; Henry, R William (2008) Transcriptional regulation of human small nuclear RNA genes. Biochim Biophys Acta 1779:295-305
Ullah, Zakir; Buckley, Martin S; Arnosti, David N et al. (2007) Retinoblastoma protein regulation by the COP9 signalosome. Mol Biol Cell 18:1179-86
Gu, Liping; Husain-Ponnampalam, Rhonda; Hoffmann-Benning, Susanne et al. (2007) The protein kinase CK2 phosphorylates SNAP190 to negatively regulate SNAPC DNA binding and human U6 transcription by RNA polymerase III. J Biol Chem 282:27887-96
Jawdekar, Gauri W; Hanzlowsky, Andrej; Hovde, Stacy L et al. (2006) The unorthodox SNAP50 zinc finger domain contributes to cooperative promoter recognition by human SNAPC. J Biol Chem 281:31050-60
Hanzlowsky, Andrej; Jelencic, Blanka; Jawdekar, Gauri et al. (2006) Co-expression of multiple subunits enables recombinant SNAPC assembly and function for transcription by human RNA polymerases II and III. Protein Expr Purif 48:215-23
Gu, Liping; Esselman, Walter J; Henry, R William (2005) Cooperation between small nuclear RNA-activating protein complex (SNAPC) and TATA-box-binding protein antagonizes protein kinase CK2 inhibition of DNA binding by SNAPC. J Biol Chem 280:27697-704
Keller, Scott A; Ullah, Zakir; Buckley, Martin S et al. (2005) Distinct developmental expression of Drosophila retinoblastoma factors. Gene Expr Patterns 5:411-21
Gridasova, Anastasia A; Henry, R William (2005) The p53 tumor suppressor protein represses human snRNA gene transcription by RNA polymerases II and III independently of sequence-specific DNA binding. Mol Cell Biol 25:3247-60

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