Skip to main content
Log in

Gene expression: surprises from the class III side

  • Review
  • Published:
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Those genes which are transcribed by RNA polymerase III continue to give surprising results with respect to their cis-acting elements and transacting factors. As a result, a broader view of class III promoters has emerged and the internal promoters are not universal in classical polymerase III genes. The involvement of TFIID, TFIIA, a factor homologous to TFIIB and an RNA factor in class III gene transcription has further changed our thinking in regards to the mechanisms of transcription.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Geiduschek EP, Tocchini-Valentini GP: Transcription by RNA polymerase III. Ann Rev Biochem 57:873–914, 1988

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kunkel GR: RNA polymerase III transcription of genes that lack internal control regions. Biochem Biophys Acta 1088:1–9, 1991

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Palmer JM, Folk WR: Unraveling the complexities of transcription by RNA polymerase III. Trends Biochem Sci 15:300–304, 1990

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Gabrielsen OS, Sentenac A: RNA polymerase III and its transcription factors. Trends Biochem Sci 16:412–416, 1991

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Waibel F, Filipowics W: RNA polymerase specificity of transcription of arabidopsis U Sn RNA genes determined by promoter element spacing. Nature 346:199–202, 1990

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Lobo SM, Hernandez N: A 7bp mutation converts a human RNA polymerase II Sn RNA promoter into an RNA polymerase III promoter. Cell 58:55–67, 1989

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lescure A, Carbon P, Krol A: The different positioning of the proximal sequence element in theXenopus RNA polymerase II and III Sn RNA promoter is a key determinant which confers RNA polymerase III specificity. Nucleic Acids Res 19:435–441, 1991

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Waldschmidt R, Jahn D, Seifart KH: Purification of transcription factor IIIB from HeLa cells. J Biol Chem 263:13350–13356, 1988

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Klekamp MS, Weil PA: Properties of yeast class III gene transcription factor TFIIIB. J Biol Chem 262:7878–7883, 1987

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Klekamp MS, Weil PA: Partial purification and characterization of the saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor TFIIIB. J Biol Chem 261:2819–2827, 1986

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Taggart AKP, Fisher TS, Pugh BF: The TATA binding protein and associated factors are components of polymerase III transcription factor IIIB. Cell 71:1015–1028, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lobo SM, Tanaka M, Sullivan ML, Hernandez N: A TBP complex essential for transcription from TATA less but not TATA containing RNA polymerase III promoters is part of the TFIIIB fraction. Cell 71:1029–1040, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. White RJ, Jackson SP: Mechanism of TATA binding protein recruitment to a TATA less class III promoter. Cell 71:1041–1053, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kassavetis GA, Joazeiro CAP, Pisano M, Geiduschek EP, Colbert T, Hahn S, Blanco JA: The role of the TATA binding protein in the assembly and function of the multisubunit yeast RNA polymerase III transcription factor IIIB. Cell 71:1055–1064, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kassavetis GA, Bartholomew B, Blanco JA, Johnson TE, Geiduschek EP: Two essential components of the saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor IIIB. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 88:7308–7312, 1991

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Yoshinaga SK, Boulanger PA, Berk AJ: Resolution of human transcription factor IIIC into two functional components. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 84:3585–3589, 1987

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Dean A, Berk AJ: Separation of TFIIIC into two functional components by sequence specific DNA affinity chromatography. Nucleic Acids Res 15:9895–9907, 1987

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Fradkin LG, Yoshinaga SK, Berk AJ, Dasgupta A: Human transcription factor TFIIIC2 specifically interacts with a unique sequence in the Xenopus laevis 5S rRNA gene. Mol Cell Biol 9: 4941–4950, 1989

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Yoshinaga SK, Etoile NDL, Berk AJ: Purification and characterization of transcription factor IIIC2. J Biol Chem 264:10726–10731, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  20. Schneider H, Waldschmidt R, Seifart KH: Human transcription factor IIIC contains a polypeptide of 55 kDa specifically binding to Pol III genes. Nucleic Acids Res 18:4743–4750, 1990

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Waldschmidt R, Schneider HR, Seifart KH: Human transcription factor IIIC binds to its cognate promoter sequences in a metal coordinated fashion. Nucleic Acids Res 19:1455–1458, 1991

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Kovelman R, Roeder RG: Purification and characterization of two forms of human transcription factor IIIC. J Biol Chem 267: 24446–24456, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Cromlish JA, Roeder RG: Human transcription factor IIIC (TFIIIC). J Biol Chem 264:18100–18109, 1989

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Schneider HR, Waldschmidt R, Jan D, Seifart KH: Purification of human transcription factor IIIC and its binding to the gene for ribosomal 5S RNA gene. Nucleic Acids Res 17:5003–5016, 1989

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Swanson RN, Conesa C, Lefebvre O, Carles C, Ruet A, Quemeneur E, Gagnon J, Sentenac A: Isolation of TFC1, a gene encoding one of two DNA binding subunits of yeast transcription factor TFIIIC. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 88:4887–4891, 1991

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Lefebvre O, Carles C, Conesa C, Swanson RN, Bouet F, Riva M, Sentenac A: TFC3: Gene encoding the B-block binding subunit of the yeast transcription factor IIIC. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 89: 10512–10516, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Murphy S, Pierani A, Scheidereit C, Melli M, Roeder RG. Purified octamer binding transcription factors stimulate RNA polymerase III mediated transcription of the 7SK RNA gene. Cell 59: 1071–1080, 1989

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Lobo SM, Wister J, Sullivan ML, Hernandez N: The cloned RNA polymerase II transcription factor II D selects RNA polymerase III to transcribe the human U6 genein vitro. Genes and Dev 5: 1477–1489, 1991

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Margottin F, Dujardin G, Gerard M, Egly J-M, Huet J, Sentenac A: Participation of the TATA factor in transcription of the yeast U6 gene by RNA polymerase C. Science 251:424–426, 1991

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Simmen KA, Bernues J, Perry HD, Stunnenberg HG, Berkemstan A, Cavallini B, Egly J-M, Mattaj IN: TFIID is required forin vitro transcription of the human U6 gene by RNA polymerase III. EMBO J 10:1853–1862, 1991

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. White RJ, Jackson SP, Rigby PWJ: A role for the TATA box binding protein component of the transcription factor IID complex as a general RNA polymerase III transcription factor. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 89:1949–1953, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Simmen SA, Bernues J, Lewis JD, Mattaj IW: Cofractionation of the TATA binding protein with the RNA polymerase III transcription factor TFIIIB. Nucl Acids Res 20:5889–5898, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Mitchell MT, Benfield PA: TATA box mediatedin vitro transcription by RNA polymerase III. J Biol Chem 268:1141–1150, 1993

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Huet J, Sentenac A: The TATA binding protein participates in TFIIIB assembly on tRNA gene. Nucl Acids Res 20:6451–6454, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Waldschmidt R, Seifart KH: TFIIA is required forin vitro transcription of mammalian U6 genes by RNA polymerase III. J Biol Chem 267:16359–16364, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Meibner W, Holland R, Waldschmidt R, Seifart KH: Transcription factor IIA stimulates the expression of classical polymerase III genes. Nucl Acids Res 21:1013–1018, 1993

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Colbert T, Hahn S: A yeast TFIIB related factor involved in RNA polymerase III transcription. Genes Dev 6:1940–1949, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Lopez-De-Leon A, Librizzi M, Puglia K, Willis IM: PCF4 encodes an RNA polymerase III transcription factor with homology to TFIIb. Cell 71:211–220, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Buratowski S, Zhou M: A suppressor of TBP mutations encodes an RNA polymerase III transcription factor with homology to TFIIB. Cell 71:221–230, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Comai L, Tanese N, Tijan R: The TATA binding protein and associated factors are integral components of the RNA polymerase I transcription factor, SL1. Cell 68:965–976, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Young LS, Dunstan HM, Witte PR, Smith TP, Ottonello S, Sprague KU: A Class III transcription factor composed of RNA. Science 252:542–546, 1991

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Kassavetis GA, Blanco JA, Johnson TE, Geidushek EP: Formation of open and elongating transcription complexes by RNA polymerase III. J Mol Biol 226:47–58, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Rigby PWJ: Three in one and one in three: It all depends on TBP. Cell 72:7–10, 1993

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Lescure A, Tebb G, Mattaj IW, Krol A, Carbon P: A factor with SP-1 DNA binding specificity stimulatesXenopus U6 Sn RNAin vivo transcription by RNA polymerase III. J Mol Biol 228:387–394, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shastry, B.S. Gene expression: surprises from the class III side. Mol Cell Biochem 124, 85–89 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01096385

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01096385

Key words

Navigation