Specialization versus conservation: How Pol I and Pol III use the conserved architecture of the pre-initiation complex for specialized transcription

Transcription. 2016 Aug 7;7(4):127-32. doi: 10.1080/21541264.2016.1203628. Epub 2016 Jun 21.

Abstract

Here, we discuss the overall architecture of the RNA polymerase I (Pol I) and III (Pol III) core enzymes and their associated general transcription factors in the context of models of the Pol I and Pol III pre-initiation complexes, thereby highlighting potential functional adaptations of the Pol I and Pol III enzymes to their respective transcription tasks. Several new insights demonstrate the great degree of specialization of each of the eukaryotic RNA polymerases that is only beginning to be revealed as the structural and functional characterization of all eukaryotic RNA polymerases and their pre-initiation complexes progresses.

Keywords: RNA polymerase I; RNA polymerase II; TFIIB; TFIIE; TFIIF; pre-initiation complex; transcription.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites*
  • Conserved Sequence*
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • RNA Polymerase I / chemistry
  • RNA Polymerase I / metabolism*
  • RNA Polymerase III / chemistry
  • RNA Polymerase III / metabolism*
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Transcription Factor TFIIB / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors, TFII / metabolism
  • Transcription Initiation, Genetic*

Substances

  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Transcription Factor TFIIB
  • Transcription Factors, TFII
  • transcription factor TFIIE
  • RNA Polymerase I
  • RNA Polymerase III
  • transcription factor TFIIF