Base J represses genes at the end of polycistronic gene clusters in Leishmania major by promoting RNAP II termination.

ABSTRACT: The genomes of kinetoplastids are organized into polycistronic gene clusters that are flanked by the modified DNA base J. Previous work has established a role of base J in promoting RNA polymerase II termination in Leishmania spp. where the loss of J leads to termination defects and transcription into adjacent gene clusters. It remains unclear whether these termination defects affect gene expression and whether read through transcription is detrimental to cell growth, thus explaining the essential nature of J. We now demonstrate that reduction of base J at specific sites within polycistronic gene clusters in L. major leads to read through transcription and increased expression of downstream genes in the cluster. Interestingly, subsequent transcription into the opposing polycistronic gene c

SUBMITTER: Reynolds DL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5038137 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature