Week 5 - Control of Gene Expression Part III and IV Flashcards
Control of transcription initiation
• used for most genes
• local structure of the gene is changed
(chromatin unwound, histones)
• general transcription apparatus binds to promoter
RNA is modified and processed
- can control expression of alternative products from gene
- mRNA is exported from nucleus to cytoplasm
- mRNA is translated and degraded
Eukaryotic gene expression is usually controlled
at the level of initiation of transcription
• by opening the chromatin
Activator/repressor proteins interact with specific
promoter elements
Activator/repressor proteins interact with specific promoter elements
• transcription activator/repressor proteins have at least 2 independently folded and distinct functional domains
– DNA-binding domain = makes sequence specific contacts with the control elements in the regulatory promoter or enhancer
– activation/repression domain is left free to recruit/bind various components of the transcription machinery to alter chromatin structure around the transcriptional start site, in order to activate transcription
• additional domains include: dimerization domains, ligand binding domains
Transcription activator/repressor proteins have at least 2 independently folded and distinct functional domains
- DNA-binding domain
- activation/repression domain
DNA-binding domain
(of transcription activator/repressor proteins)
makes sequence-specific contacts with the control elements in the regulatory promoter or enhancer
Activation/repression domain (of transcription activator/repressor proteins)
left free to recruit/bind various components of the transcription machinery to alter chromatin structure around the transcriptional start site - in order to activate transcription
A cell-based assay for determining
whether a transcription factor is an activator or a repressor
A cell-based assay for determining whether a transcription factor is an activator or a repressor
- transcriptional activators or repressors can be assayed for an ability to activate or repress transcription in an in vivo transfection assay
- system requires 2 plasmids
– 1 containing the putative transcriptional activator/repressor
– 1 containing a reporter gene and 1 or more binding sites for the protein
- both plasmids are transfected into cells at the same time and the production of the reporter gene mRNA (and protein) is measured
- the reporter gene often encodes green fluorescent protein for ease of assay
- useful for domains/truncated proteins to identify/map activator/repressor domains
Cell-based assay for determining whether a transcription factor is an activator/repressor
PICTURE
Domain-swapping experiments have identified
activation domains
Domain-swapping experiments have identified activation domains
- DNA binding on factor 1
- factor 2 has 3 regions - ABC
- combind DNA-binding domain of 1 with different regions of 2
- test on gene carrying binding site for factor 1
- see which of the[region2 + DNA-binding of 1] has gene activation
Domain-swapping experiments have identified activation domains
PICTURE
Mechanisms for transcriptional activation by activator proteins
- activation by recruitment
- activation by conformational change
- activation by altering chromatin structure
Mechanisms for transcriptional activation by activator proteins
ACTIVATION BY RECRUITMENT
activation domain interacts with 1 or more components of the transcriptional machinery and stabilizes its binding to the template DNA
Mechanisms for transcriptional activation by activator proteins
ACTIVATION BY CONFORMATIONAL CHANGE
activation domain induces a conformational change in the transcription machinery to stimulate RNA polymerase II to initiate transcription
Mechanisms for transcriptional activation by activator proteins
ACTIVATION BY ALTERING CHROMATIN STRUCTURE
activation domain recruits chromatin remodelling proteins (co-activators) to modulate chromatin structure around promoterse
Assembly of the preinitiation complex - steps
PICTURE
Activation factors bind sequences
upstream
Activation by interaction with basal transcription machinery
- activtion by recruitment - activation domain interacts with one or more components of the transcriptional machinery and stabilizes its binding to the template DNA
- increases binding of a particular component of the basal machinery so enhancing its assembly
- or, activator alters conformation of an already bound factor so stimulating the activity/stability of the complex
Activation by interaction with basal transcription machinery
PICTURE
Activation by interaction with basal transcriptional machinery
…
activators can interact with
TFIID
Activation by interaction with basal transcription machinery
Activators can interact with TFIID
- enhances binding of TFIID to TATA box, thereby improving trate of PIC assembly
- activators can alter conformation of TFIID so stimulating its activity by increasiing its ability to recruit other PIC comonents or by enhancing ability to stimulate transcription
- interaction is through TBP or one or more of the TBP-associated factors (TAFs)
- accessory proteins within TFIID talk between TFIID and transcription factor
Enhanced transcription via TFIID
PICTURE
Activation by interaction with basal transcription machinery
Interaction is through TBP or one or more of the TBP-associated factors (TAFs)
PICTURE
Activation by interaction with basal transcription machinery
Activators can interact with TFIID via
TAFs
- different activators taraget different TAFs
- different cell types can have cell type-specific TAFs
- TAFs are critical intermediates between activators and the basal transcription complex
- TFIIB (binds directly after TFIID) for RNA polymerase to escae
- TFIID –> enhanced fromation of other proteins binding –> affects binding of RNA polymerase
Activation by interaction with basal transcription machinery
Activators can interact with TFIIB
- allows stimulation of asembly of PIC/activity of basal transcriptional complex after TFIID has bound
- TFIIB interacts with acidic activators
- activators stimulate binding of TFIIB to the promoter and can also alter its configuration when bound, thus improving its ability to recruit other components of the PIC (such as RNA pol II)
TFIID and mediator
- TFIID interacts with TATA
- mediator - physical link between activator protein and RNA polymerase
Activation by interaction with basal transcription machinery
Activators can interact with TFIIB
PICTURE
Mediator complex is required for
activated transcription
Mediator complex is required for activated transcription
- activators interact with RNA pol II through the mediator complex
- CTD of RNA pol II interacts with the mediator complex
- this interaction is required for the response to transcriptional activators
- mediator forms a molecular bridge between activators and RNA pol Ii
Activators interact with RNA pol II through
the mediator complex
CTD of RNA pol II interacts with the mediator complex
• This interaction is required for the response to
transcriptional activators
Mediator forms a molecular bridge between
activators and RNA pol II
binds carboxy terminal of RNA pol II and bridges interactions with activators
The mediator complex
PICTURE
Structure of the mediator complex
• approximately 30 subunits comprisig 3 subcomplexes
- the head
- the middle
- the tail
- head interacts with RNA pol II CTD
- tail itneracts with activators
- different classes of activators interact with different mediator subunits
Mediator interacts with
- activator proteins
- Pol II transcription machinery
Mediator interacts with activator proteins and Pol II transcription machinery
Activators can interact with co-activators
- the principle that governs the function of all activators is that a DNA-binding domain determines specificity for the target promoter or enhancer
- the DNA-binding domain is responsible for localizing a transcription-activating domain in the proximity of the basal apparatus
- an activator that works directly has a DNA-binding domain and an activating domain
- an activator that does not have an activating domain may work by binding a co-activator that has an activating domain
The principle that governs the function of all activators is
a DNA-binding domain determines specificity for the target promoter or ehancer
• the DNA-binding domain is responsible for localizing a transcription-activating domain in the proximity of teh basal apparatus
The DNA-binding domain is responsible for
localizing a transcription-activating domain in the proximity of the basal apparatus
An activator that works DIRECTLY has
a DNA-binding domain and an activating domain
An activator that does not have an activating domain may work by
binding a co-activator that has an activating domain
• most work this way