Conserved strategies of RNA polymerase I hibernation and activation.

ABSTRACT: RNA polymerase (Pol) I transcribes the ribosomal RNA precursor in all eukaryotes. The mechanisms 'activation by cleft contraction' and 'hibernation by dimerization' are unique to the regulation of this enzyme, but structure-function analysis is limited to baker's yeast. To understand whether regulation by such strategies is specific to this model organism or conserved among species, we solve three cryo-EM structures of Pol I from Schizosaccharomyces pombe in different functional states. Comparative analysis of structural models derived from high-resolution reconstructions shows that activation is accomplished by a conserved contraction of the active center cleft. In contrast to current beliefs, we find that dimerization of the S. pombe polymerase is also possible. This dimerization is achi

SUBMITTER: Heiss FB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7859239 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature