RNA polymerase II subunit RPB10 is essential for yeast cell viability

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene encoding the smallest RNA polymerase II subunit, RPB10, was isolated and sequenced. The gene for this subunit is present in single copy and maps to chromosome XV, where two other yeast RNA polymerase II subunits, RPB2 and RPB8, reside. The RPB10 sequence predicts a protein only 46 amino acids in length with a molecular mass of 5400 daltons. Sporulation and tetrad analysis of diploid cells containing one copy of the RPB10 gene and one copy of HIS3 in place of the RPB10 gene revealed that the RPB10 subunit is essential for viability.