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Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on (TRO) Approach
12:12

Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on (TRO) Approach

Published on: March 12, 2017

Human snRNA genes use polyadenylation factors to promote efficient transcription termination

Dawn O'Reilly1, Olga V Kuznetsova, Clelia Laitem

  • 1Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK and CGAT, MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.

Nucleic Acids Research
|October 8, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Human small nuclear RNA (snRNA) gene transcription termination differs from yeast, utilizing the Integrator complex and APT/CF I/II factors. Chromatin structure also aids termination for U1 and U2 genes.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Regulation
  • RNA Processing

Background:

  • RNA polymerase II transcribes protein-coding and non-coding RNAs.
  • Yeast employs distinct termination mechanisms for mRNA and small nucleolar/nuclear (sno/sn)RNA genes.
  • Human sno/snRNA termination pathways remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms of human snRNA gene transcription termination.
  • To compare human snRNA termination with yeast and mRNA termination pathways.
  • To identify factors involved in human snRNA 3'-end processing and termination.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized U1 and U2 snRNA genes as model systems.
  • Investigated the roles of the Integrator complex, APT, and cleavage factor I/II complexes.
  • Examined the influence of proximal sequence element-binding transcription factor (PTF) and negative elongation factor.

Main Results:

  • Human snRNA termination shares similarities with mRNA termination, unlike in yeast.
  • The Integrator complex couples snRNA 3'-end processing with termination.
  • APT and cleavage factor I/II complexes act as terminators for human snRNA genes.
  • PTF and negative elongation factor, along with chromatin structure, facilitate termination.

Conclusions:

  • Human snRNA genes employ a termination mechanism more akin to mRNA genes.
  • The Integrator complex plays a crucial role in coupling processing and termination.
  • Chromatin structure may serve as an additional regulatory mechanism for efficient termination in vivo.

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