Reference - PMID:28367989 - The conserved protein Seb1 drives transcription termination by binding RNA polymerase II and nascent RNA.
Reference summary
- PubMed ID
- PMID:28367989
- Title
- The conserved protein Seb1 drives transcription termination by binding RNA polymerase II and nascent RNA.
- Authors
- Wittmann S, Renner M, Watts BR, Adams O, Huseyin M, Baejen C, El Omari K, Kilchert C, Heo DH, Kecman T, Cramer P, Grimes JM, Vasiljeva L
- Citation
- Nat Commun 2017 Apr 03;8:14861
- Publication year
- 2017
- Abstract
- Termination of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription is an important step in the transcription cycle, which involves the dislodgement of polymerase from DNA, leading to release of a functional transcript. Recent studies have identified the key players required for this process and showed that a common feature of these proteins is a conserved domain that interacts with the phosphorylated C-terminus of Pol II (CTD-interacting domain, CID). However, the mechanism by which transcription termination is achieved is not understood. Using genome-wide methods, here we show that the fission yeast CID-protein Seb1 is essential for termination of protein-coding and non-coding genes through interaction with S2-phosphorylated Pol II and nascent RNA. Furthermore, we present the crystal structures of the Seb1 CTD- and RNA-binding modules. Unexpectedly, the latter reveals an intertwined two-domain arrangement of a canonical RRM and second domain. These results provide important insights into the mechanism underlying eukaryotic transcription termination.