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Evolution of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain.

ABSTRACT: In recent years a great deal of biochemical and genetic research has focused on the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit (RPB1) of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II. This strongly conserved domain of tandemly repeated heptapeptides has been linked functionally to important steps in the initiation and processing of mRNA transcripts in both animals and fungi. Although they are absolutely required for viability in these organisms, C-terminal tandem repeats do not occur in RPB1 sequences from diverse eukaryotic taxa. Here we present phylogenetic analyses of RPB1 sequences showing that canonical CTD heptads are strongly conserved in only a subset of eukaryotic groups, all apparently descended from a single common ancestor. Moreover, eukaryotic groups in which the most complex patterns of ontogenetic development occur are descended from this CTD-containing ancestor. Consistent with the results of genetic and biochemical investigations of CTD function, these analyses suggest that the enhanced control over RNA polymerase II transcription conveyed by acquired CTD/protein interactions was an important step in the evolution of intricate patterns of gene expression that are a hallmark of large, developmentally complex eukaryotic organisms.

SUBMITTER: Stiller JW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC122907 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Evolution of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain.

Stiller John W JW Hall Benjamin D BD

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20020423 9

In recent years a great deal of biochemical and genetic research has focused on the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit (RPB1) of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II. This strongly conserved domain of tandemly repeated heptapeptides has been linked functionally to important steps in the initiation and processing of mRNA transcripts in both animals and fungi. Although they are absolutely required for viability in these organisms, C-terminal tandem repeats do not occur in RPB1 sequences fro ...[more]

PMID: 11972039

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Project description:BackgroundRPB1, the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, contains a highly modifiable C-terminal domain (CTD) that consists of variations of a consensus heptad repeat sequence (Y1S2P3T4S5P6S7). The consensus CTD repeat motif and tandem organization represent the ancestral state of eukaryotic RPB1, but across eukaryotes CTDs show considerable diversity in repeat organization and sequence content. These differences may reflect lineage-specific CTD functions mediated by protein interactions. Mammalian CTDs contain eight non-consensus repeats with a lysine in the seventh position (K7). Posttranslational acetylation of these sites was recently shown to be required for proper polymerase pausing and regulation of two growth factor-regulated genes.ResultsTo investigate the origins and function of RPB1 CTD acetylation (acRPB1), we computationally reconstructed the evolution of the CTD repeat sequence across eukaryotes and analyzed the evolution and function of genes dysregulated when acRPB1 is disrupted. Modeling the evolutionary dynamics of CTD repeat count and sequence content across diverse eukaryotes revealed an expansion of the CTD in the ancestors of Metazoa. The new CTD repeats introduced the potential for acRPB1 due to the appearance of distal repeats with lysine at position seven. This was followed by a further increase in the number of lysine-containing repeats in developmentally complex clades like Deuterostomia. Mouse genes enriched for acRPB1 occupancy at their promoters and genes with significant expression changes when acRPB1 is disrupted are enriched for several functions, such as growth factor response, gene regulation, cellular adhesion, and vascular development. Genes occupied and regulated by acRPB1 show significant enrichment for evolutionary origins in the early history of eukaryotes through early vertebrates.ConclusionsOur combined functional and evolutionary analyses show that RPB1 CTD acetylation was possible in the early history of animals, and that the K7 content of the CTD expanded in specific developmentally complex metazoan lineages. The functional analysis of genes regulated by acRPB1 highlight functions involved in the origin of and diversification of complex Metazoa. This suggests that acRPB1 may have played a role in the success of animals.

Project description:With a simple tandem iterated sequence, the carboxyl terminal domain (CTD) of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) serves as the central coordinator of mRNA synthesis by harmonizing a diversity of sequential interactions with transcription and processing factors. Despite intense research interest, many key questions regarding functional and evolutionary constraints on the CTD remain unanswered; for example, what selects for the canonical heptad sequence, its tandem array across organismal diversity, and constant CTD length within given species and finally and how a sequence-identical, repetitive structure can orchestrate a diversity of simultaneous and sequential, stage-dependent interactions with both modifying enzymes and binding partners? Here we examine comparative sequence evolution of 58 RNAP II CTDs from diverse taxa representing all six major eukaryotic supergroups and employ integrated evolutionary genetic, biochemical, and biophysical analyses of the yeast CTD to further clarify how this repetitive sequence must be organized for optimal RNAP II function. We find that the CTD is composed of indivisible and independent functional units that span diheptapeptides and not only a flexible conformation around each unit but also an elastic overall structure is required. More remarkably, optimal CTD function always is achieved at approximately wild-type CTD length rather than number of functional units, regardless of the characteristics of the sequence present. Our combined observations lead us to advance an updated CTD working model, in which functional, and therefore, evolutionary constraints require a flexible CTD conformation determined by the CTD sequence and tandem register to accommodate the diversity of CTD-protein interactions and a specific CTD length rather than number of functional units to correctly order and organize global CTD-protein interactions. Patterns of conservation of these features across evolutionary diversity have important implications for comparative RNAP II function in eukaryotes and can more clearly direct specific research on CTD function in currently understudied organisms.

Dataset Information

Evolution of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain.

Publications

Evolution of the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain.

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