Project description:The polymerase associated factor 1 complex (Paf1C) is a multifunctional epigenetic regulator of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription. Paf1C controls gene expression by stimulating the placement of co-transcriptional histone modifications, influencing nucleosome occupancy in coding regions, facilitating transcription termination, and regulating nuclear export of RNAs. In this study, we investigate the extent to which these functions of Paf1C combine to influence the Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcriptome. Using conditions that enrich for unstable transcripts, we show that deletion of PAF1 affects all classes of Pol II-transcribed RNAs including multiple classes of noncoding transcripts. Gene ontology analysis revealed that mRNAs encoding genes involved in iron and phosphate homeostasis were differentially affected by deletion of PAF1. We further investigated these two groups of mRNAs with the goal of identifying overarching mechanisms of up and down-regulation in cells lacking Paf1. Our results indicate that only a subset of the observed changes result from loss of Paf1C-promoted histone modifications. We also found that transcription of the FET4 gene is differentially regulated by Paf1 and an upstream CUT. Together these data highlight the complexity of the epigenetic regulation of Pol II transcription imposed by Paf1C and identify a role for Paf1C in promoting CUT transcription.
Project description:C. elegans GLD-2 forms an active PAP with multiple RNA-binding partners to regulate diverse aspects of germline and early embryonic development. One GLD-2 partner, RNP-8, was previously shown to influence oocyte fate specification. To identify transcripts selectively associated with both GLD-2 and RNP-8, we employ a genomic approach using the method of RNA immunoprecipitation followed by microarray analysis (RIP-chip). We used microarrays to identify mRNAs selectively associated with either GLD-2 or RNP-8.
Project description:RNP granules are membrane-less compartments within cells, formed by phase separation, that function as regulatory hubs for diverse biological processes. However, the mechanisms by which RNAs and proteins interact to promote RNP granule assembly and function in vivo remain unclear. In Xenopus laevis oocytes, maternal mRNAs are transported as large RNPs to the vegetal hemisphere of the developing oocyte, where local translation is critical for proper embryonic patterning. Here, we demonstrate that vegetal transport RNPs represent a new class of cytoplasmic RNP granule, termed Localization-bodies (L-bodies). We show that L-bodies are multiphase RNP granules, containing a dynamic liquid-like protein-containing phase surrounding a non-dynamic RNA-containing substructure. Our results support a role for RNA as a critical scaffold component within these RNP granules and suggest that cis-elements within localized mRNAs may drive subcellular RNA localization through control over phase behavior.
Project description:This project aims to identify novel RNA binding proteins in the baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Since interactions between RNAs and proteins may be transient, yeast cells were crosslinked with UV light at 254 nm which promotes the covalent link between proteins and RNAs. After this, polyadenylated mRNAs were purified via oligo(dT) coupled to magentic beads under stringet conditions. Finally, samples were subjected to mass spectrometry analysis. To rule out the possibility of RNA-independent binding we also analysed other samples: i) samples digested with RNase one; ii) samples where we performed competition assays with polyadenylic acid.
Project description:Natural genetic variation can cause significant differences in gene expression, but little is known about the polymorphisms that affect gene regulation. We analyzed regulatory variation in a cross between laboratory and wild strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Clustering and linkage analysis defined groups of coregulated genes and the loci involved in their regulation. Most expression differences mapped to trans-acting loci. Positional cloning and functional assays showed that polymorphisms in GPA1 and AMN1 affect expression of genes involved in pheromone response and daughter cell separation, respectively. We also asked whether particular classes of genes were more likely to contain trans-regulatory polymorphisms. Notably, transcription factors showed no enrichment, and trans-regulatory variation seems to be broadly dispersed across classes of genes with different molecular functions Keywords: other
Project description:RPA12 is a subunit of RNA polymerase I. We used microarrays to know the effect RPA12 deltion in lipid metabolism and identified distinct classes of up-regulated genes during this process.
Project description:C. elegans GLD-2 forms an active PAP with multiple RNA-binding partners to regulate diverse aspects of germline and early embryonic development. One GLD-2 partner, RNP-8, was previously shown to influence oocyte fate specification. To identify transcripts selectively associated with both GLD-2 and RNP-8, we employ a genomic approach using the method of RNA immunoprecipitation followed by microarray analysis (RIP-chip). We used microarrays to identify mRNAs selectively associated with either GLD-2 or RNP-8. Worm extracts were prepared from synchronized adult C. elegans (15 h after L4 stage). For GLD-2 IP, an immoblized anti-GLD-2 antibody was then used to purify the GLD-2 complexes from either wild-type (N2) or gld-2(RNAi) worm extracts. RNA was then extracted from the pellets and analyzed on C.elegans Affymetrix genechip. Four biological replicates were performed, each sample processed in parallel. For RNP-8 IP, an immoblized anti-RNP-8 antibody was then used to purify the RNP-8 complexes from either wild-type (N2) or rnp-8(q784) worm extracts and three biological replicates were performed. For wt or gld-2(RNAi) samples, total RNA was extracted from worm extracts and hybridized on C.elegans Affymetrix genechip.
Project description:Protein binding is essential to the transport, decay and regulation of almost all RNA molecules. However, the structural preference of protein binding on RNAs and their cellelar functions and dynamics upon changing environmental condictions are poorly understood. Here, we integrated various high-throughput data and introduced a computational framework to describe the global interactions between RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and structured RNAs in yeast at single-nucleotide resolution. We found that on average, in terms of percent total lengths, ~15% of mRNA untranslated regions (UTRs), ~37% of canonical ncRNAs and ~11% of long ncRNA (lncRNAs) are bound by proteins. The RBP binding sites, in general, tend to occur at single-stranded loops, with evolutionarily conserved signatures, and often facilitate a specific RNA structure conformation in vivo. We found that four nucleotide modifications of tRNA are significantly associated with RBP binding. We also identified various structural motifs bound by RBPs in the UTRs of mRNAs, associated with localization, degradation and stress responces. Moreover, we identified >200 novel lncRNAs bound by RBPs, and about half of them contain conserved secondary structures. We present the first ensemble pattern of RBP binding sites in the structured noncoding regions of a eukaryotic genome, emphasizing their structural context and cellular functions.