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RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain required for enhancer-driven transcription

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Abstract

THE RNA polymerase II carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) consists of tandem repeats of the sequence Tyr-Ser-Pro-Thr-Ser-Pro-Ser1–3. The CTD may participate in activated transcription through interaction with a high-molecular-weight mediator complex4–6. Such a role would be consistent with observations that some genes are preferentially sensitive to CTD mutations7,8. Here we investigate the function of the mouse RNA polymerase CTD in enhancer-driven transcription. Transcription by a-amanitin-resistant CTD-deletion mutants was tested by transient transfection of tissue culture cells in the presence of α-amanitin in order to inhibit endogenous RNA polymerase II. Removal of most of the CTD abolishes transcriptional activation by all enhancers tested, whereas transcription from promoters driven by Spl, a factor that typically activates housekeeping genes from positions proximal to the initiation sites, is not affected. These findings show that the CTD is essential in mediating 'enhancer'-type activation of mammalian transcription.

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Author notes

  1. Marilyn A. L. West: Section of Plant Biology, Division of Biological Science, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA

  2. Ying Litingtung and Jeffry L. Corden: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Molekularbiologie II der Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland

    Hans-Peter Gerber, Michael Hagmann, Katja Seipel, Oleg Georgiev, Marilyn A. L. West, Ying Litingtung, Walter Schaffner & Jeffry L. Corden

Authors
  1. Hans-Peter Gerber
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  2. Michael Hagmann
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  3. Katja Seipel
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  4. Oleg Georgiev
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  5. Marilyn A. L. West
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  6. Ying Litingtung
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  7. Walter Schaffner
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  8. Jeffry L. Corden
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Gerber, HP., Hagmann, M., Seipel, K. et al. RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain required for enhancer-driven transcription. Nature 374, 660–662 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/374660a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/374660a0

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