5m3f
Yeast RNA polymerase I elongation complex at 3.8AYeast RNA polymerase I elongation complex at 3.8A
Structural highlights
FunctionRPA1_YEAST DNA-dependent RNA polymerase catalyzes the transcription of DNA into RNA using the four ribonucleoside triphosphates as substrates. Largest and catalytic core component of RNA polymerase I which synthesizes ribosomal RNA precursors. Forms the polymerase active center together with the second largest subunit. A single stranded DNA template strand of the promoter is positioned within the central active site cleft of Pol I. A bridging helix emanates from RPA1 and crosses the cleft near the catalytic site and is thought to promote translocation of Pol I by acting as a ratchet that moves the RNA-DNA hybrid through the active site by switching from straight to bent conformations at each step of nucleotide addition (By similarity). Publication Abstract from PubMedRNA polymerase I (Pol I) is a highly processive enzyme that transcribes ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and regulates growth of eukaryotic cells. Crystal structures of free Pol I from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have revealed dimers of the enzyme stabilized by a 'connector' element and an expanded cleft containing the active centre in an inactive conformation. The central bridge helix was unfolded and a Pol-I-specific 'expander' element occupied the DNA-template-binding site. The structure of Pol I in its active transcribing conformation has yet to be determined, whereas structures of Pol II and Pol III have been solved with bound DNA template and RNA transcript. Here we report structures of active transcribing Pol I from yeast solved by two different cryo-electron microscopy approaches. A single-particle structure at 3.8 A resolution reveals a contracted active centre cleft with bound DNA and RNA, and a narrowed pore beneath the active site that no longer holds the RNA-cleavage-stimulating domain of subunit A12.2. A structure at 29 A resolution that was determined from cryo-electron tomograms of Pol I enzymes transcribing cellular rDNA confirms contraction of the cleft and reveals that incoming and exiting rDNA enclose an angle of around 150 degrees . The structures suggest a model for the regulation of transcription elongation in which contracted and expanded polymerase conformations are associated with active and inactive states, respectively. Structure of RNA polymerase I transcribing ribosomal DNA genes.,Neyer S, Kunz M, Geiss C, Hantsche M, Hodirnau VV, Seybert A, Engel C, Scheffer MP, Cramer P, Frangakis AS Nature. 2016 Nov 14. doi: 10.1038/nature20561. PMID:27842382[1] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. See AlsoReferences
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