Week 4a - Mechanisms of Eukaryotic Transcription Flashcards
Prokaryotes and bacteriophages
no nucleus
Eukaryotes
• nucleus
• enzymes must get in (pores in nuclear envelope)
• more
genes, more complex
Introns are removed at the level of
mNRA splicing
• 1 gene –> more than 1 type of RNA (alternative splicing)
Eukaryotes vs prokaryotes
- eukaryotes have introns and exons
* prokaryotes have operon
Interrupted gene
a gene in which the coding sequence is not continuous due to the presence of introns
Exon
a segment of DNA that is transcribed and retained in the mature RNA product
Intron
a segment of DNA that is transcribed, but later removed from within the transcript by splicing together the sequences (exons) on either sides of it
Mature transcript
a modified RNA transcript
• modification may include removal of intron sequences and alterations to the 5’ and 3’ ends
Eukaryotic RNA polymerases
• eukaryotes have 3 RNA polymerases with distinct properties and one each specifically dedicated to rRNA, mRNA, and tRNA synthesis
Eukaryotic RNA polymerases require
numerous transcription factors
Eukaryotic RNA polymerase requires factors to
modify chromatin structure to allow RNA polymerase access
Eukaryotic RNA polymerase I
• located in the nucleolus
• makes pre-rRNA
(leading to 5.8s, 1BS, and 28S rRNA)
• 14 subunits
Eukaryotic RNA polymerase II
- located in the nucleoplasm
- makes pre-mRNA and some snRNAs
- 12 subunits
Eukaryotic RNA polymerase III
- located in the nucleoplasm
- tRNA, 5srRNA, U6 snRNA (spliceosome)
- 7SL RNA (signal recognition particle)
- 17 subunits
Eukaryotic RNA polymerases share some subunits but not others
in RNA polymerase I, II, III • Rpb5 • Rpb6 • Rpb8 • Rpb10 • Rpb12
Many RNA polymerase II subunits
have homologs in RNA polymerase I and/or III
Bacterial RNA subunits have
at least 1 homolog in each eukaryotic polymerase
Structure of RNA pol II
- 2 catalytic centers
* magnesium ion in active site
Trarnscription initiation can be
focused or dispersed
• RNA polymerase can’t initiate transcription from specific start sites without the assistance of other proteins - transcription factors
• each RNA polymerase has its own specific set of transcription factors to assist in locating their specific start sites
• around each transcription site is a core promoter
• approximately 70% of vertebrate core promoters are dispersed promoters (allows multiple mRNAs to be produced from a single gene)
RNA polymerase cant initiate transcription from specific start sties without
the assistance of other proteins - transcription factors
Each RNA polymerase has its own specific
set of transcription factors to assist in locating their specific start sties
Around each transcription site is a
core promoter
Approximately 70% of vertebrate core promoters are
dispersed promoters • allow multiple mRNAs to be produced from a single gene • often by cell type, tissue specific (different place = different promoter) - by different transcription factors
More promoters mean
transcription at different spots
–> more than 1 mRNA
• more than 1 transcriptional start site
–> diversity in RNA
Eukaryotic core Pol II promoter motifs
- TATA box: TATAXAX consensus sequence (X is A or T) located 25-30 bp upstream of the transcription start site
- initiator element (lnr) - overlaps the transcription initiation site (binds TFIID)
- downstream promoter element (DPE) - extends from about +28 to +34
- TFIIB recognition element (BRE) - accessory transcription factor
- SCPE1 - present in TATA-less human core promoters (1% human genes)
TATA box
TATAXAX consensus located 25-30 bp upstream of the trascription start site
(X is A or T)
Initiator element (Inr)
overlaps the transcription initiation site
Downstream promoter element (DPE)
extends from about +28 to +34
TFIIB recognition element (BRE)
accessory transcription factor
SCPE1
present in TATA-less human core promoters
1% human genes
RNA polymerase II requires several
general transcription factors
TFIIA
general transcription factor for RNA polymerase II
• 2 subunits
• stabilizes TBP and TFIID binding
• blocks the inhibitory effects of TAF1 and other proteins
TFIIB
general transcription factor for RNA polymerase II
• 1 subunit
• stabilizes TFIID-promoter binding
• contributes to transcription start site selection
• helps recruit RNA polymerase II TFIIF to the core promoter
TFIID
TBP and TAFs
general transcription factor for RNA polymerase II
• 1 and 14 subunits
• binds TATA element and deforms promoter DNA
• platform for the assembly of TFIIB and TAFs
• binds Inr, MTE, DPE, and DCE promoter elements
TFIIE
general transcription factor for RNA polymerase II
• helps to recruit TFIIH to the core promoter and is required for promoter melting