The ability of a cell to properly express its genes depends on optimal transcription and splicing. RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcribes protein-coding genes and produces pre-mRNAs, which undergo, largely co-transcriptionally, intron excision by the spliceosome complex. Spliceosome activation is a major control step, leading to a catalytically active complex. Recent work has showed that cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)11 regulates spliceosome activation via the phosphorylation of SF3B1, a core spliceosome component. Thus, CDK11 arises as a major coordinator of gene expression in metazoans due to its role in the rate-limiting step of pre-mRNA splicing. This review outlines the evolution of CDK11 and SF3B1 and their emerging roles in splicing regulation. It also discusses how CDK11 and its inhibition affect transcription and cell cycle progression.

• Klíčová slova
• C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II, OTS964, ULM–UHM interaction, cell cycle progression, constitutive splicing, histone transcription,
• MeSH
• buněčný cyklus MeSH
• cyklin-dependentní kinasy * metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• regulace genové exprese * MeSH
• sestřih RNA * genetika   MeSH
• sestřihové faktory MeSH
• spliceozomy metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cyklin-dependentní kinasy * MeSH
• sestřihové faktory MeSH

The 5'-3' exoribonuclease Xrn2, known as Rat1 in yeasts, terminates mRNA transcription by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). In the torpedo model of termination, the activity of Xrn2/Rat1 is enhanced by Rai1, which is recruited to the termination site by Rtt103, an adaptor protein binding to the RNAPII C-terminal domain (CTD). The overall architecture of the Xrn2/Rat1-Rai1-Rtt103 complex remains unknown. We combined structural biology methods to characterize the torpedo complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Chaetomium thermophilum. Comparison of the structures from these organisms revealed a conserved protein core fold of the subunits, but significant variability in their interaction interfaces. We found that in the mesophile, Rtt103 utilizes an unstructured region to augment a Rai1 β-sheet, while in the thermophile Rtt103 binds to a C-terminal helix of Rai1 via its CTD-interacting domain with an α-helical fold. These different torpedo complex assemblies reflect adaptations to the environment and impact complex recruitment to RNAPII.

• Klíčová slova
• NMR, RNAPII, cryo-EM, exonuclease, structure, termination, thermophiles, torpedo complex,
• MeSH
• Chaetomium * metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• exoribonukleasy * chemie   metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• krystalografie rentgenová MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny * chemie   metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae * metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• vazebná místa MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• exoribonukleasy * MeSH
• RAT1 protein, S cerevisiae MeSH Prohlížeč
• RNA-polymerasa II MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae - proteiny * 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

Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most severe type of DNA damage. Previously, we demonstrated that RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) phosphorylated at the tyrosine 1 (Y1P) residue of its C-terminal domain (CTD) generates RNAs at DSBs. However, the regulation of transcription at DSBs remains enigmatic. Here, we show that the damage-activated tyrosine kinase c-Abl phosphorylates hSSB1, enabling its interaction with Y1P RNAPII at DSBs. Furthermore, the trimeric SOSS1 complex, consisting of hSSB1, INTS3, and c9orf80, binds to Y1P RNAPII in response to DNA damage in an R-loop-dependent manner. Specifically, hSSB1, as a part of the trimeric SOSS1 complex, exhibits a strong affinity for R-loops, even in the presence of replication protein A (RPA). Our in vitro and in vivo data reveal that the SOSS1 complex and RNAPII form dynamic liquid-like repair compartments at DSBs. Depletion of the SOSS1 complex impairs DNA repair, underscoring its biological role in the R-loop-dependent DNA damage response.

• Klíčová slova
• CP: Molecular biology, DNA damage, DNA:RNA hybrids, LLPS, R-loops, RNA polymerase II, SOSS1 complex, c-Abl kinase, hSSB1, phase-separation, phosphorylation,
• MeSH
• DNA vazebné proteiny * metabolismus   MeSH
• oprava DNA MeSH
• poškození DNA MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II * metabolismus   MeSH
• separace fází MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA vazebné proteiny * MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II * MeSH

The specific post-translational modifications of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the Rpb1 subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) correlate with different stages of transcription. The phosphorylation of the Ser5 residues of this domain associates with the initiation condensates, which are formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). The subsequent Tyr1 phosphorylation of the CTD peaks at the promoter-proximal region and is involved in the pause-release of RNAPII. By implementing super-resolution microscopy techniques, we previously reported that the nuclear Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) associates with the Ser5-phosphorylated-RNAPII complex and facilitates the RNAPII transcription. In this study, we identified Myosin Phosphatase Rho-Interacting Protein (MPRIP) as a novel regulator of the RNAPII transcription that recruits Tyr1-phosphorylated CTD (Tyr1P-CTD) to nuclear PIP2-containing structures. The depletion of MPRIP increases the number of the initiation condensates, indicating a defect in the transcription. We hypothesize that MPRIP regulates the condensation and transcription through affecting the association of the RNAPII complex with nuclear PIP2-rich structures. The identification of Tyr1P-CTD as an interactor of PIP2 and MPRIP further points to a regulatory role in RNAPII pause-release, where the susceptibility of the transcriptional complex to leave the initiation condensate depends on its association with nuclear PIP2-rich structures. Moreover, the N-terminal domain of MPRIP, which is responsible for the interaction with the Tyr1P-CTD, contains an F-actin binding region that offers an explanation of how nuclear F-actin formations can affect the RNAPII transcription and condensation. Overall, our findings shed light on the role of PIP2 in RNAPII transcription through identifying the F-actin binding protein MPRIP as a transcription regulator and a determinant of the condensation of RNAPII.

• Klíčová slova
• MPRIP, PIP2, RNA polymerase II, phase separation, transcription,
• MeSH
• aktiny * metabolismus   MeSH
• fosfatasa lehkého řetězce myosinu genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• fosforylace MeSH
• genetická transkripce MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• proteinfosfatasy genetika   MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II * chemie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aktiny * MeSH
• fosfatasa lehkého řetězce myosinu MeSH
• MPRIP protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• proteinfosfatasy MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II * 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

The C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a regulatory hub for transcription and RNA processing. Here, we identify PHD-finger protein 3 (PHF3) as a regulator of transcription and mRNA stability that docks onto Pol II CTD through its SPOC domain. We characterize SPOC as a CTD reader domain that preferentially binds two phosphorylated Serine-2 marks in adjacent CTD repeats. PHF3 drives liquid-liquid phase separation of phosphorylated Pol II, colocalizes with Pol II clusters and tracks with Pol II across the length of genes. PHF3 knock-out or SPOC deletion in human cells results in increased Pol II stalling, reduced elongation rate and an increase in mRNA stability, with marked derepression of neuronal genes. Key neuronal genes are aberrantly expressed in Phf3 knock-out mouse embryonic stem cells, resulting in impaired neuronal differentiation. Our data suggest that PHF3 acts as a prominent effector of neuronal gene regulation by bridging transcription with mRNA decay.

• MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• fosforylace MeSH
• genetická transkripce MeSH
• genový knockdown MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myši knockoutované MeSH
• myši MeSH
• neurony chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• posttranskripční úpravy RNA MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• regulace genové exprese MeSH
• RNA-polymerasa II chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• RNA * chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• stabilita RNA MeSH
• transkripční faktory genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• PHF3 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• RNA-polymerasa II MeSH
• RNA * MeSH
• transkripční faktory MeSH

A leading pharmacological strategy toward HIV cure requires "shock" or activation of HIV gene expression in latently infected cells with latency reversal agents (LRAs) followed by their subsequent clearance. In a screen for novel LRAs, we used fungal secondary metabolites as a source of bioactive molecules. Using orthogonal mass spectrometry (MS) coupled to latency reversal bioassays, we identified gliotoxin (GTX) as a novel LRA. GTX significantly induced HIV-1 gene expression in latent ex vivo infected primary cells and in CD4+ T cells from all aviremic HIV-1+ participants. RNA sequencing identified 7SK RNA, the scaffold of the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) inhibitory 7SK small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) complex, to be significantly reduced upon GTX treatment of CD4+ T cells. GTX directly disrupted 7SK snRNP by targeting La-related protein 7 (LARP7), releasing active P-TEFb, which phosphorylated RNA polymerase II (Pol II) C-terminal domain (CTD), inducing HIV transcription.

• MeSH
• gliotoxin * metabolismus   MeSH
• HeLa buňky MeSH
• HIV infekce * farmakoterapie   MeSH
• HIV-1 * metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pozitivní transkripční elongační faktor b genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteiny vázající RNA metabolismus   MeSH
• ribonukleoproteiny malé jaderné chemie   MeSH
• ribonukleoproteiny MeSH
• transkripční faktory metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• gliotoxin * MeSH
• Larp7 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• pozitivní transkripční elongační faktor b MeSH
• proteiny vázající RNA MeSH
• ribonukleoproteiny malé jaderné MeSH
• ribonukleoproteiny MeSH
• transkripční 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

Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) phosphorylates the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II and is needed for the optimal transcription elongation and translation of a subset of human protein-coding genes. The kinase has a pleiotropic effect on the maintenance of genome stability, and its inactivation in prostate and ovarian tumours results in focal tandem duplications, a CDK12-unique genome instability phenotype. CDK12 aberrations were found in many other malignancies and have the potential to be used as biomarkers for therapeutic intervention. Moreover, the inhibition of CDK12 emerges as a promising strategy for treatment in several types of cancers. In this review, we summarize mechanisms that CDK12 utilizes for the regulation of gene expression and discuss how the perturbation of CDK12-sensitive genes contributes to the disruption of cell cycle progression and the onset of genome instability. Furthermore, we describe tumour-suppressive and oncogenic functions of CDK12 and its potential as a biomarker and inhibition target in anti-tumour treatments.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH