Dynamic interaction between a Drosophila transcription factor and RNA polymerase II

We have purified factor 5, a Drosophila RNA polymerase II transcription factor. Factor 5 was found to be required for accurate initiation of transcription from specific promoters and also had a dramatic effect on the elongation properties of RNA polymerase II. Kinetic studies suggested that factor 5 stimulates the elongation rate of RNA polymerase II on a dC-tailed, double-stranded template by reducing the time spent at the numerous pause sites encountered by the polymerase. The factor was found to be composed of two polypeptides (34 and 86 kilodaltons). Both subunits bound tightly to pure RNA polymerase II but were not bound to polymerase in elongation complexes. Our results suggest that factor 5 interacts briefly with the paused polymerase molecules and catalyzes a conformational change in them such that they adopt an elongation-competent conformation.