Combinatorial phosphorylation on CTD of RNA polymerase II selectively controls transcription and export of protein-coding mRNAs [pThr4]
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ABSTRACT: C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II is crucial for recruiting transcription regulators via specific post-translational modifications (PTM), especially phosphorylation. The hypothesis of combination of PTMs, or ‘CTD code’, that can allow precise and dynamic recruitment of transcription machinery is highly attractive, yet the experimental evidence to support this hypothesis has been scarce. Here, despite lacking specific antibodies for combinatorial CTD phosphorylation, we developed an innovative approach that detects double phosphorylation patterns on the CTD in a whole-genomic fashion by leveraging the antibody masking effect with selectively removing the flanking interference. Using this method, we detected pT4pS5 double phosphosites occurring exclusively during the transcription of protein-coding genes. Furthermore, we showed that pT4pS5 marks recruit the Transcription and Export complex (TREX), which specifically facilitates mRNA processing and nucleocytoplasmic export of protein-coding mRNAs. The recruitment of TREX by pT4pS5 phosphosites is particularly important for the processing of lengthy neurogenesis-related genes. Our results provide experimental support for the notion that CTD coding system can function combinatorially and in a gene-specific manner, which encodes an exact information about the transcription of specific gene clusters. This method can be broadly applied to map all combinatorial PTM patterns on RNA polymerase II, paving the way for a deeper understanding of gene-specific transcription regulation at the molecular level.
Project description:C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II is crucial for recruiting transcription regulators via specific post-translational modifications (PTM), especially phosphorylation. The hypothesis of combination of PTMs, or ‘CTD code’, that can allow precise and dynamic recruitment of transcription machinery is highly attractive, yet the experimental evidence to support this hypothesis has been scarce. Here, despite lacking specific antibodies for combinatorial CTD phosphorylation, we developed an innovative approach that detects double phosphorylation patterns on the CTD in a whole-genomic fashion by leveraging the antibody masking effect with selectively removing the flanking interference. Using this method, we detected pT4pS5 double phosphosites occurring exclusively during the transcription of protein-coding genes. Furthermore, we showed that pT4pS5 marks recruit the Transcription and Export complex (TREX), which specifically facilitates mRNA processing and nucleocytoplasmic export of protein-coding mRNAs. The recruitment of TREX by pT4pS5 phosphosites is particularly important for the processing of lengthy neurogenesis-related genes. Our results provide experimental support for the notion that CTD coding system can function combinatorially and in a gene-specific manner, which encodes an exact information about the transcription of specific gene clusters. This method can be broadly applied to map all combinatorial PTM patterns on RNA polymerase II, paving the way for a deeper understanding of gene-specific transcription regulation at the molecular level.
Project description:C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II is crucial for recruiting transcription regulators via specific post-translational modifications (PTM), especially phosphorylation. The hypothesis of combination of PTMs, or CTD code, that can allow precise and dynamic recruitment of transcription machinery is highly attractive, yet the experimental evidence to support this hypothesis has been scarce. Here, despite lacking specific antibodies for combinatorial CTD phosphorylation, we developed an innovative approach that detects double phosphorylation patterns on the CTD in a whole-genomic fashion by leveraging the antibody masking effect with selectively removing the flanking interference. Using this method, we detected pT4pS5 double phosphosites occurring exclusively during the transcription of protein-coding genes. Furthermore, we showed that pT4pS5 marks recruit the Transcription and Export complex (TREX), which specifically facilitates mRNA processing and nucleocytoplasmic export of protein-coding mRNAs. The recruitment of TREX by pT4pS5 phosphosites is particularly important for the processing of lengthy neurogenesis-related genes. Our results provide experimental support for the notion that CTD coding system can function combinatorically and in a gene-specific manner, which encodes an exact information about the transcription of specific gene clusters. This method can be broadly applied to map all combinatorial PTM patterns on RNA polymerase II, paving the way for a deeper understanding of gene-specific transcription regulation at the molecular level
Project description:Combinatorial phosphorylation on CTD of RNA polymerase II selectively controls transcription and export of protein-coding mRNAs [pThr4]
Project description:Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) influence gene expression besides their established function in nuclear transport. The TREX-2 complex localizes to the NPC basket and affects gene-NPC interactions, transcription and mRNA export. How TREX-2 regulates the gene expression machinery is unknown. Here, we show that TREX-2 interacts with the Mediator complex, an essential regulator of RNA Polymerase (Pol) II. Structural and biochemical studies identify a conserved region on TREX-2, which directly binds the Mediator Med31/Med7N submodule. TREX-2 regulates assembly of Mediator with its Cdk8 kinase and is required for recruitment and site-specific phosphorylation of Pol II. Transcriptome and phenotypic profiling confirm that TREX-2 and Med31 are functionally interdependent. TREX-2 additionally uses its Mediator-interacting surface to regulate mRNA export suggesting a mechanism for coupling transcription initiation and early steps of mRNA processing at the Mediator level. In sum, we provide insight into how NPC-associated adaptor complexes can access the core transcription machinery. RNAseq was performed from WT, sac3∆, cdk8∆ and Sac3 R288D mutant cells. For each strain triplicates were analyzed. WT strain was sac3∆ transformed with pRS315 SAC3 WT
Project description:Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) influence gene expression besides their established function in nuclear transport. The TREX-2 complex localizes to the NPC basket and affects gene-NPC interactions, transcription and mRNA export. How TREX-2 regulates the gene expression machinery is unknown. Here, we show that TREX-2 interacts with the Mediator complex, an essential regulator of RNA Polymerase (Pol) II. Structural and biochemical studies identify a conserved region on TREX-2, which directly binds the Mediator Med31/Med7N submodule. TREX-2 regulates assembly of Mediator with its Cdk8 kinase and is required for recruitment and site-specific phosphorylation of Pol II. Transcriptome and phenotypic profiling confirm that TREX-2 and Med31 are functionally interdependent. TREX-2 additionally uses its Mediator-interacting surface to regulate mRNA export suggesting a mechanism for coupling transcription initiation and early steps of mRNA processing at the Mediator level. In sum, we provide insight into how NPC-associated adaptor complexes can access the core transcription machinery.
Project description:The Positive Transcription Elongation Factor b (P-TEFb) phosphorylates Ser2 residues of RNA polymerase II’s C-terminal domain (CTD) and is essential for the transition from transcription initiation to elongation in vivo. Surprisingly, P-TEFb exhibits Ser5 phosphorylation activity in vitro. The mechanism garnering Ser2 specificity to P-TEFb remains elusive and hinders understanding the transition from transcription initiation to elongation. Through in vitro reconstruction of CTD phosphorylation, mass spectrometry analysis, and chromatin immunoprecipitation-seq analysis we uncover a mechanism by which Tyr1 phosphorylation directs the kinase activity of P-TEFb and alters its specificity from Ser5 to Ser2. The loss of Tyr1 phosphorylation causes the reduction of Ser2 and accumulation of RNA polymerase II in the promoter region as detected by ChIP-seq. We demonstrate the ability of Tyr1 phosphorylation to generate a heterogeneous CTD modification landscape that expands the CTD’s coding potential. These findings provide direct experimental evidence for a combinatorial CTD phosphorylation code wherein previously installed modifications direct the identity and abundance of subsequent coding events by influencing the behavior of downstream enzymes.
Project description:The carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) consists of heptad repeats with the consensus motif Y1-S2-P3-T4-S5-P6-S7. Dynamic phosphorylation of the CTD coordinates Pol II progression through the transcription cycle. Monoclonal antibodies have been used to study in vivo the potentially phosphorylated CTD amino acids (Y1, S2, T4, S5 and S7). However, the epitopes detected by antibodies can be masked by proteins or modifications at neighbouring sites. Therefore, the effectiveness of antibodies in western blot or ChIP analysis reflects the number of accessible CTD phosphorylation marks, but not the total number of phosphorylations. Most importantly, CTD phospho-specific antibodies do not provide any heptad - (location) specific information of CTD phosphorylation. Due to these limitations, the principles and patterns of CTD phosphorylation remained elusive. Here, we use genetic and mass spectrometric approaches to directly detect and map phosphosites along the entire CTD. We confirm phosphorylation of CTD residues Y1, S2, T4, S5 and S7 in mammalian and yeast cells. Although specific phosphorylation signatures dominate, adjacent CTD repeats can be differently phosphorylated, leading to a high variation of coexisting phosphosites in mono- and di-heptad CTD repeats. Inhibition of CDK9 kinase specifically reduces S2 phosphorylation levels within the CTD.
Project description:THOC6 is the genetic basis of autosomal recessive THOC6 Intellectual Disability Syndrome (TIDS). THOC6 is critical for mammalian Transcription Export complex (TREX) tetramer formation, which is composed of four six-subunit THO monomers. The TREX tetramer facilitates mammalian RNA processing, in addition to the nuclear mRNA export functions of the TREX dimer conserved through yeast. Human and mouse TIDS model systems revealed novel THOC6-dependent, species-specific TREX tetramer functions. Germline biallelic Thoc6 loss-of-function (LOF) variants result in mouse embryonic lethality. Biallelic THOC6 LOF variants do not alter the expression of TREX dimer component proteins in human cells, but reduced binding affinity to ALYREF implicates impaired TREX tetramer formation. Defects in RNA nuclear export functions were not detected in biallelic THOC6 LOF human neural cells. Instead, mis-splicing was detected in human and mouse neural tissue, revealing novel THOC6-mediated TREX coordination of mRNA processing. We demonstrate that THOC6 is required for regulation of key signaling pathways in human corticogenesis that dictate the transition from proliferative to neurogenic divisions, developmental biology implicated in TIDS neuropathology.
Project description:RNA Polymerase II transcribes protein-coding and many non-coding RNA genes in eukaryotes. The largest subunit of RNA Polymerase II, Rpb1, contains a hepta-peptide repeat on its C-terminal tail with three potential phosphorylation sites (Serine 2, Serine 5 and Serine 7). Mammalian Rpb1 contains 52 repeats. The phosphorylation events are catalyzed by specific protein kinases where the phosphorylation of specific residues is coupled to the transcription cycle. For example, the Cdk7 subunit of TFIIH phosphorylates both Serine 5 and Serine 7 during intiation and the Cdk9 subunit of P-TEFb phosphorylates Serine 2 during the transition into productive elongation. The dataset presented here is the genome-wide distribution of RNA Pol II with Serine 7 of the CTD phosphorylated in murine embryonic stem cells. This data, in addition to phospho-specific datasets generated in the same cell type in Rahl et al. Cell 2010 and Seila et al. Science 2008, represents the genome-wide distribution of multiple RNA Pol II isoforms in murine embryonic stem cells: total Pol II, hypophosphorylated CTD Pol II, Serine 2 phosphorylated CTD Pol II, Serine 5 phosphorylated CTD Pol II and Serine 7 phosphorylated CTD Pol II. An antibody specific to RNA Pol II Serine 7 phosphorylated CTD (gift of Dirk Eick; Chapman et al. Science 2008) was used to enrich for DNA fragments associated with this Pol II isoform in murine embryonic stem cells. DNA was purified and prepared for Illumina/Solexa sequencing following their standard protocol. This is a single dataset but together with datasets from Rahl et al. Cell 2010 and Seila et al. Science 2008, these datasets represent the genome-wide distribution of multiple RNA Pol II isoforms in murine embryonic stem cells: total Pol II, hypophosphorylated CTD Pol II, Serine 2 phosphorylated CTD Pol II, Serine 5 phosphorylated CTD Pol II and Serine 7 phosphorylated CTD Pol II.