The intrinsically disordered carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) consists of multiple tandem repeats of the consensus heptapeptide Y1-S2-P3-T4-S5-P6-S7. The CTD promotes liquid-liquid phase-separation (LLPS) of RNAPII in vivo. However, understanding the role of the conserved heptad residues in LLPS is hampered by the lack of direct biochemical characterization of the CTD. Here, we generated a systematic array of CTD variants to unravel the sequence-encoded molecular grammar underlying the LLPS of the human CTD. Using in vitro experiments and molecular dynamics simulations, we report that the aromaticity of tyrosine and cis-trans isomerization of prolines govern CTD phase-separation. The cis conformation of prolines and β-turns in the SPXX motif contribute to a more compact CTD ensemble, enhancing interactions among CTD residues. We further demonstrate that prolines and tyrosine in the CTD consensus sequence are required for phosphorylation by Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7). Under phase-separation conditions, CDK7 associates with the surface of the CTD droplets, drastically accelerating phosphorylation and promoting the release of hyperphosphorylated CTD from the droplets. Our results highlight the importance of conformationally restricted local structures within spacer regions, separating uniformly spaced tyrosine stickers of the CTD heptads, which are required for CTD phase-separation.

• MeSH
• cyklin-dependentní kinasy * metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• fosforylace MeSH
• kinasa aktivující cyklin dependentní kinasy * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• prolin metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II * metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• simulace molekulární dynamiky * MeSH
• tyrosin metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• CDK7 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• cyklin-dependentní kinasy * MeSH
• kinasa aktivující cyklin dependentní kinasy * MeSH
• prolin MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II * MeSH
• tyrosin MeSH

Influenza A viruses, causing seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics, rely on interactions with host proteins for their RNA genome transcription and replication. The viral RNA polymerase utilizes host RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and interacts with the serine 5 phosphorylated (pS5) C-terminal domain (CTD) of Pol II to initiate transcription. Our study, using single-particle electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM), reveals the structure of the 1918 pandemic influenza A virus polymerase bound to a synthetic pS5 CTD peptide composed of four heptad repeats mimicking the 52 heptad repeat mammalian Pol II CTD. The structure shows that the CTD peptide binds at the C-terminal domain of the PA viral polymerase subunit (PA-C) and reveals a previously unobserved position of the 627 domain of the PB2 subunit near the CTD. We identify crucial residues of the CTD peptide that mediate interactions with positively charged cavities on PA-C, explaining the preference of the viral polymerase for pS5 CTD. Functional analysis of mutants targeting the CTD-binding site within PA-C reveals reduced transcriptional function or defects in replication, highlighting the multifunctional role of PA-C in viral RNA synthesis. Our study provides insights into the structural and functional aspects of the influenza virus polymerase-host Pol II interaction and identifies a target for antiviral development.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding the intricate interactions between influenza A viruses and host proteins is crucial for developing targeted antiviral strategies. This study employs advanced imaging techniques to uncover the structural nuances of the 1918 pandemic influenza A virus polymerase bound to a specific host protein, shedding light on the vital process of viral RNA synthesis. The study identifies key amino acid residues in the influenza polymerase involved in binding host polymerase II (Pol II) and highlights their role in both viral transcription and genome replication. These findings not only deepen our understanding of the influenza virus life cycle but also pinpoint a potential target for antiviral development. By elucidating the structural and functional aspects of the influenza virus polymerase-host Pol II interaction, this research provides a foundation for designing interventions to disrupt viral replication and transcription, offering promising avenues for future antiviral therapies.

• Klíčová slova
• CTD, RNA polymerase II, RNA polymerases, influenza, transcription,
• MeSH
• chřipka lidská virologie   MeSH
• elektronová kryomikroskopie * MeSH
• fosforylace MeSH
• genetická transkripce MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• replikace viru MeSH
• RNA virová metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• RNA-dependentní RNA-polymerasa * metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II * metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• virové proteiny * metabolismus   chemie   genetika   MeSH
• virus chřipky A * metabolismus   genetika   enzymologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• RNA virová MeSH
• RNA-dependentní RNA-polymerasa * MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II * MeSH
• virové proteiny * MeSH

Transcription elongation factor Spt6 associates with RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and acts as a histone chaperone, which promotes the reassembly of nucleosomes following the passage of Pol II. The precise mechanism of nucleosome reassembly mediated by Spt6 remains unclear. In this study, we used a hybrid approach combining cryo-electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering to visualize the architecture of Spt6 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The reconstructed overall architecture of Spt6 reveals not only the core of Spt6, but also its flexible N- and C-termini, which are critical for Spt6's function. We found that the acidic N-terminal region of Spt6 prevents the binding of Spt6 not only to the Pol II CTD and Pol II CTD-linker, but also to pre-formed intact nucleosomes and nucleosomal DNA. The N-terminal region of Spt6 self-associates with the tSH2 domain and the core of Spt6 and thus controls binding to Pol II and nucleosomes. Furthermore, we found that Spt6 promotes the assembly of nucleosomes in vitro. These data indicate that the cooperation between the intrinsically disordered and structured regions of Spt6 regulates nucleosome and Pol II CTD binding, and also nucleosome assembly.

• MeSH
• elektronová kryomikroskopie MeSH
• genetická transkripce MeSH
• histonové chaperony genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• nukleozomy * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II metabolismus   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny * metabolismus   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• transkripční elongační faktory metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• histonové chaperony MeSH
• nukleozomy * MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny * MeSH
• SPT6 protein, S cerevisiae MeSH Prohlížeč
• transkripční elongační faktory MeSH

Transcription elongation factor Spt6 associates with RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) via a tandem SH2 (tSH2) domain. The mechanism and significance of the RNAP II-Spt6 interaction is still unclear. Recently, it was proposed that Spt6-tSH2 is recruited via a newly described phosphorylated linker between the Rpb1 core and its C-terminal domain (CTD). Here, we report binding studies with isolated tSH2 of Spt6 (Spt6-tSH2) and Spt6 lacking the first unstructured 297 residues (Spt6ΔN) with a minimal CTD substrate of two repetitive heptads phosphorylated at different sites. The data demonstrate that Spt6 also binds the phosphorylated CTD, a site that was originally proposed as a recognition epitope. We also show that an extended CTD substrate harboring 13 repetitive heptads of the tyrosine-phosphorylated CTD binds Spt6-tSH2 and Spt6ΔN with tighter affinity than the minimal CTD substrate. The enhanced binding is achieved by avidity originating from multiple phosphorylation marks present in the CTD. Interestingly, we found that the steric effects of additional domains in the Spt6ΔN construct partially obscure the binding of the tSH2 domain to the multivalent ligand. We show that Spt6-tSH2 binds various phosphorylation patterns in the CTD and found that the studied combinations of phospho-CTD marks (1,2; 1,5; 2,4; and 2,7) all facilitate the interaction of CTD with Spt6. Our structural studies reveal a plasticity of the tSH2 binding pockets that enables the accommodation of CTDs with phosphorylation marks in different registers.

• Klíčová slova
• CTD, RNA polymerase II, Spt6, NMR structure, phosphorylation,
• MeSH
• epitopy genetika   MeSH
• fosforylace genetika   MeSH
• genetická transkripce * MeSH
• histonové chaperony genetika   MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II genetika   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny genetika   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetika   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin genetika   MeSH
• src homologní domény genetika   MeSH
• transkripční elongační faktory genetika   MeSH
• vazba proteinů genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• epitopy MeSH
• histonové chaperony MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny MeSH
• SPT6 protein, S cerevisiae MeSH Prohlížeč
• transkripční elongační faktory MeSH

RNA polymerase II contains a long C-terminal domain (CTD) that regulates interactions at the site of transcription. The CTD architecture remains poorly understood due to its low sequence complexity, dynamic phosphorylation patterns, and structural variability. We used integrative structural biology to visualize the architecture of the CTD in complex with Rtt103, a 3'-end RNA-processing and transcription termination factor. Rtt103 forms homodimers via its long coiled-coil domain and associates densely on the repetitive sequence of the phosphorylated CTD via its N-terminal CTD-interacting domain. The CTD-Rtt103 association opens the compact random coil structure of the CTD, leading to a beads-on-a-string topology in which the long rod-shaped Rtt103 dimers define the topological and mobility restraints of the entire assembly. These findings underpin the importance of the structural plasticity of the CTD, which is templated by a particular set of CTD-binding proteins.

• Klíčová slova
• CTD, RNA polymerase II, Rtt103, structural biology, transcription,
• MeSH
• interakční proteinové domény a motivy MeSH
• krystalografie rentgenová MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční spektroskopie MeSH
• multimerizace proteinu MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II metabolismus   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• transkripční faktory chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• audiovizuální média MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• RNA-polymerasa II MeSH
• Rtt103 protein, S cerevisiae MeSH Prohlížeč
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny MeSH
• transkripční faktory MeSH

Phosphorylation patterns of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (called the CTD code) orchestrate the recruitment of RNA processing and transcription factors. Recent studies showed that not only serines and tyrosines but also threonines of the CTD can be phosphorylated with a number of functional consequences, including the interaction with yeast transcription termination factor, Rtt103p. Here, we report the solution structure of the Rtt103p CTD-interacting domain (CID) bound to Thr4 phosphorylated CTD, a poorly understood letter of the CTD code. The structure reveals a direct recognition of the phospho-Thr4 mark by Rtt103p CID and extensive interactions involving residues from three repeats of the CTD heptad. Intriguingly, Rtt103p's CID binds equally well Thr4 and Ser2 phosphorylated CTD A doubly phosphorylated CTD at Ser2 and Thr4 diminishes its binding affinity due to electrostatic repulsion. Our structural data suggest that the recruitment of a CID-containing CTD-binding factor may be coded by more than one letter of the CTD code.

• Klíčová slova
• NMR, RNA processing, RNAPII CTD code, structural biology,
• MeSH
• fosforylace MeSH
• genetická transkripce MeSH
• proteinkinasy metabolismus   MeSH
• proteolýza MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• serin metabolismus   MeSH
• terciární struktura proteinů MeSH
• threonin chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• transkripční faktory chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• tyrosin metabolismus   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• proteinkinasy MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II MeSH
• Rtt103 protein, S cerevisiae MeSH Prohlížeč
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny MeSH
• serin MeSH
• threonin MeSH
• transkripční faktory MeSH
• tyrosin MeSH

The Nrd1-Nab3-Sen1 (NNS) complex is essential for controlling pervasive transcription and generating sn/snoRNAs in S. cerevisiae. The NNS complex terminates transcription of noncoding RNA genes and promotes exosome-dependent processing/degradation of the released transcripts. The Trf4-Air2-Mtr4 (TRAMP) complex polyadenylates NNS target RNAs and favors their degradation. NNS-dependent termination and degradation are coupled, but the mechanism underlying this coupling remains enigmatic. Here we provide structural and functional evidence demonstrating that the same domain of Nrd1p interacts with RNA polymerase II and Trf4p in a mutually exclusive manner, thus defining two alternative forms of the NNS complex, one involved in termination and the other in degradation. We show that the Nrd1-Trf4 interaction is required for optimal exosome activity in vivo and for the stimulation of polyadenylation of NNS targets by TRAMP in vitro. We propose that transcription termination and RNA degradation are coordinated by switching between two alternative partners of the NNS complex.

• MeSH
• DNA-dependentní DNA-polymerasy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• exozómy metabolismus   MeSH
• fungální RNA metabolismus   MeSH
• konformace nukleové kyseliny MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční spektroskopie MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• nekódující RNA metabolismus   MeSH
• polyadenylace MeSH
• proteiny vázající RNA chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II metabolismus   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetika   MeSH
• stabilita RNA MeSH
• terminace genetické transkripce * MeSH
• vazebná místa MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA-dependentní DNA-polymerasy MeSH
• fungální RNA MeSH
• nekódující RNA MeSH
• NRD1 protein, S cerevisiae MeSH Prohlížeč
• PAP2 protein, S cerevisiae MeSH Prohlížeč
• proteiny vázající RNA MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny MeSH

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Nrd1-dependent termination and processing pathways play an important role in surveillance and processing of non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs). The termination and subsequent processing is dependent on the Nrd1 complex consisting of two RNA-binding proteins Nrd1 and Nab3 and Sen1 helicase. It is established that Nrd1 and Nab3 cooperatively recognize specific termination elements within nascent RNA, GUA[A/G] and UCUU[G], respectively. Interestingly, some transcripts do not require GUA[A/G] motif for transcription termination in vivo and binding in vitro, suggesting the existence of alternative Nrd1-binding motifs. Here we studied the structure and RNA-binding properties of Nrd1 using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), fluorescence anisotropy and phenotypic analyses in vivo. We determined the solution structure of a two-domain RNA-binding fragment of Nrd1, formed by an RNA-recognition motif and helix-loop bundle. NMR and fluorescence data show that not only GUA[A/G] but also several other G-rich and AU-rich motifs are able to bind Nrd1 with affinity in a low micromolar range. The broad substrate specificity is achieved by adaptable interaction surfaces of the RNA-recognition motif and helix-loop bundle domains that sandwich the RNA substrates. Our findings have implication for the role of Nrd1 in termination and processing of many non-coding RNAs arising from bidirectional pervasive transcription.

• MeSH
• dimerizace MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• proteiny vázající RNA chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• RNA chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• terciární struktura proteinů MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• NRD1 protein, S cerevisiae MeSH Prohlížeč
• proteiny vázající RNA MeSH
• RNA MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny MeSH