Transcription initiation requires opening of promoter DNA in the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pre-initiation complex (PIC), but it remains unclear how this is achieved. Here we report the cryo-electron microscopic (cryo-EM) structure of a yeast PIC tha ...
Transcription initiation requires opening of promoter DNA in the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pre-initiation complex (PIC), but it remains unclear how this is achieved. Here we report the cryo-electron microscopic (cryo-EM) structure of a yeast PIC that contains underwound, distorted promoter DNA in the closed Pol II cleft. The DNA duplex axis is offset at the upstream edge of the initially melted DNA region (IMR) where DNA opening begins. Unstable IMRs are found in a subset of yeast promoters that we show can still initiate transcription after depletion of the transcription factor (TF) IIH (TFIIH) translocase Ssl2 (XPB in human) from the nucleus in vivo. PIC-induced DNA distortions may thus prime the IMR for melting and may explain how unstable IMRs that are predicted in promoters of Pol I and Pol III can open spontaneously. These results suggest that DNA distortion in the polymerase cleft is a general mechanism that contributes to promoter opening.
Organizational Affiliation:
Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biology, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. Electronic address: patrick.cramer@mpibpc.mpg.de.
General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH helicase subunit XPD,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH helicase subunit XPD,DNA repair helicase RAD3,DNA repair helicase RAD3,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH helicase subunit XPD
General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit SSL1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit SSL1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit SSL1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit SSL1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit SSL1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit SSL1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit SSL1
General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB1,RNA polymerase II transcription factor B subunit 1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB1,RNA polymerase II transcription factor B subunit 1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB1,RNA polymerase II transcription factor B subunit 1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB1,RNA polymerase II transcription factor B subunit 1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB1,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB1
General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB2,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB2,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB2,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB2,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB2,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB2,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB2
General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB4,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB4,RNA polymerase II transcription factor B subunit 4,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB4,General transcription and DNA repair factor IIH subunit TFB4
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