Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026
10:59
Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events
Published on: May 13, 2019
Dynamic architecture of a minimal RNA polymerase II open promoter complex
Barbara Treutlein1, Adam Muschielok, Joanna Andrecka
1Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr.11, 81377 Munich, Germany.
Molecular Cell
|March 20, 2012
Summary
This study reveals the 3D structure of the open promoter complex (OC) during transcription initiation. Key findings show dynamic DNA loading and structural shifts in transcription factors, accommodating the initiation-elongation transition.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Structural Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The open promoter complex (OC) is crucial for transcription initiation, featuring a DNA bubble.
- Understanding its structure is key to deciphering gene regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the 3D architecture of a minimal OC.
- To investigate structural changes during the transcription initiation-elongation transition.
Main Methods:
- Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments.
- Nano-Positioning System (NPS) analysis.
- Studied a minimal OC with promoter DNA, TATA box-binding protein (TBP), RNA polymerase (Pol) II, TFIIB, and TFIIF.
Main Results:
- TATA-DNA and TBP are positioned above the Pol II cleft.
- Downstream DNA dynamically enters and exits the Pol II cleft within seconds.
- The TFIIB core domain shifts from its position in the closed promoter complex.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals significant structural rearrangements during the initiation-elongation transition.
- The intrinsic flexibility of TFIIB appears to accommodate these large structural changes.
Related Concept Videos
01:47Transcription Initiation
Initiation is the first step of transcription in eukaryotes. Prokaryotic RNA Polymerase (RNAP) can bind to the template DNA and start transcribing. On the other hand, transcription in eukaryotes requires additional proteins, called transcription factors, to first bind to the promoter region in the DNA template. This binding helps recruit the specific RNAP that can assemble on the DNA and start transcription.
The promoters and enhancers and their accessory proteins allow tight regulation of...
The promoters and enhancers and their accessory proteins allow tight regulation of...
01:53Bacterial Transcription
RNA polymerase (RNAP) carries out DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in both bacteria and eukaryotes. Bacteria do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. So, transcription and translation occur simultaneously, on the same DNA template.
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
02:36RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins
Proteins that regulate transcription can do so either via direct contact with RNA Polymerase or through indirect interactions facilitated by adaptors, mediators, histone-modifying proteins, and nucleosome remodelers. Direct interactions to activate transcription is seen in bacteria as well as in some eukaryotic genes. In these cases, upstream activation sequences are adjacent to the promoters, and the activator proteins interact directly with the transcriptional machinery. For example, in...
02:36RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins
Proteins that regulate transcription can do so either via direct contact with RNA Polymerase or through indirect interactions facilitated by adaptors, mediators, histone-modifying proteins, and nucleosome remodelers. Direct interactions to activate transcription is seen in bacteria as well as in some eukaryotic genes. In these cases, upstream activation sequences are adjacent to the promoters, and the activator proteins interact directly with the transcriptional machinery. For example, in...
00:58Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases
RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
00:58Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases
RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...