An RNA polymerase II-associated TFIIF-like complex is indispensable for SL RNA gene transcription in Trypanosoma brucei.

ABSTRACT: Trypanosomes are protistan parasites that diverged early in evolution from most eukaryotes. Their streamlined genomes are packed with arrays of tandemly linked genes that are transcribed polycistronically by RNA polymerase (pol) II. Individual mRNAs are processed from pre-mRNA by spliced leader (SL) trans splicing and polyadenylation. While there is no strong evidence that general transcription factors are needed for transcription initiation at these gene arrays, a RNA pol II transcription pre-initiation complex (PIC) is formed on promoters of SLRNA genes, which encode the small nuclear SL RNA, the SL donor in trans splicing. The factors that form the PIC are extremely divergent orthologues of the small nuclear RNA-activating complex, TBP, TFIIA, TFIIB, TFIIH, TFIIE and Mediator. Here, we

SUBMITTER: Srivastava A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5829719 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature