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RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is dedicated to transcription of the large ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The mechanism of Pol I recruitment onto rDNA promoters is poorly understood. Here we present evidence that subunit A43 of Pol I interacts with transcription factor Rrn3: conditional mutations in A43 were found to disrupt the transcriptionally competent Pol I-Rrn3 complex, the two proteins formed a stable complex when co-expressed in Escherichia coli, overexpression of Rrn3 suppressed the mutant phenotype, and A43 and Rrn3 mutants showed synthetic lethality. Consistently, immunoelectron microscopy data showed that A43 and Rrn3 co-localize within the Pol I-Rrn3 complex. Rrn3 has several protein partners: a two-hybrid screen identified the C-terminus of subunit Rrn6 of the core factor as a Rrn3 contact, an interaction supported in vitro by affinity chromatography. Our results suggest that Rrn3 plays a central role in Pol I recruitment to rDNA promoters by bridging the enzyme to the core factor. The existence of mammalian orthologues of A43 and Rrn3 suggests evolutionary conservation of the molecular mechanisms underlying rDNA transcription in eukaryotes.

The C31 subunit belongs to a complex of three subunits (C31, C34 and C82) specific to RNA polymerase (pol) III that have no counterparts in other RNA polymerases. This complex is thought to play a role in transcription initiation since it interacts with the general initiation factor TFIIIB via subunit C34. We have obtained a conditional mutation of pol III by partially deleting the acidic C-terminus of the C31 subunit. A Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain carrying this truncated C31 subunit is impaired in in vivo transcription of tRNAs and failed to grow at 37 degrees C. This conditional growth phenotype was suppressed by overexpression of the gene coding for the largest subunit of pol III (C160), suggesting an interaction between C160 and C31. The mutant pol III enzyme transcribed non-specific templates at wild-type rates in vitro, but was impaired in its capacity to transcribe tRNA genes in the presence of general initiation factors. Transcription initiation, but not termination or recycling of the enzyme, was affected in the mutant, suggesting that it could be altered on interaction with initiation factors or on the formation of the open complex. Interestingly, the C-terminal deletion was also suppressed by a high gene dosage of the DED1 gene encoding a putative helicase.

In eukaryotes, TFIIIB is required for proper initiation by RNA polymerase III. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae a single form of TFIIIB (gammaTFIIIB) is sufficient for transcription of all pol III genes, whereas in extracts derived from human cells two different hTFIIIB complexes exist which we have previously designated as hTFIIIB-alpha and hTFIIIB-beta. Human TFIIIB-alpha is a TBP-free entity and must be complemented by TBP for transcription of pol III genes driven by gene external promoters, whereas hTFIIIB-beta is a TBP-TAF complex which governs transcription from internal pol III promoters. We show that hTFIIIB-beta cannot be replaced by yeast TFIIIB for transcription of tRNA genes, but that the B" component of gammaTFIIIB can substitute for hTFIIIB-alpha activity in transcription of the human U6 gene. Moreover, hTFIIIB-alpha can be chromatographically divided into activities which are functionally related to gammaTFIIIE and recombinant yB"90, suggesting that hTFIIIB-alpha is a human homolog of yeast TFIIIB". In addition, we show that yeast TBP can only be exchanged against human TBP for in vitro transcription of the human and yeast U6 gene but virtually not for that of the yeast tRNA4Sup gene. This deficiency can be counteracted by a mutant of human TBP (R231K) which is able to replace yeast TBP for transcription of yeast tRNA genes in vitro.

Fractionation of yeast extracts on heparin-agarose revealed the presence of a DNA footprinting activity that interacted specifically with the 5'-upstream region of TEF1 and TEF2 genes coding for the protein synthesis elongation factor EF-1 alpha, and of the ribosomal protein gene RP51A. The protected regions encompassed the conserved sequences 'HOMOL1' (AACATC TA CG T A G CA) or RPG-box (ACCCATACATT TA) previously detected 200-400 bp upstream of most of the yeast ribosomal protein genes examined. Two types of protein-DNA complexes were separated by a gel electrophoresis retardation assay. Complex 1, formed on TEF1, TEF2 and RP51A 5'-flanking region, was correlated with the protection of a 25-bp sequence. Complex 2, formed on TEF2 or RP51A probes at higher protein concentrations, corresponded to an extended footprint of 35-40 bp. The migration characteristics of the protein-DNA complexes and competition experiments indicated that the same component(s) interacted with the three different promoters. It is suggested that this DNA factor(s) is required for activation and coordinated regulation of the whole family of genes coding for the translational apparatus.

A yeast extract was fractionated to resolve the factors involved in the transcription of yeast tRNA genes. An in vitro transcription system was reconstituted with two separate protein fractions and purified RNA polymerase C (III). Optimal conditions for tRNA synthesis have been determined. One essential component, termed tau factor, was partially purified by conventional chromatographic methods on heparin-agarose and DEAE-Sephadex; it sedimented as a large macromolecule in glycerol gradients (mol. wt. approximately 300 000). tau factor was found to form a stable complex with the tRNA gene in the absence of other transcriptional components. Complex formation is very fast, is not temperature dependent between 10 degrees C and 25 degrees C and does not require divalent cations. The factor-DNA complex is stable for at least 30 min at high salt concentration (0.1 M ammonium sulfate). These results indicate that gene recognition by a specific factor is a primary event in tRNA synthesis.

Monoclonal antibodies were raised in mouse against native RNA polymerase A from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After screening with the spot-immunodetection technique, 14 hybridomas were selected and the antibodies produced in mice. Their specificity, analyzed by blot-immunodetection, was found to be markedly biased towards a few RNA polymerase subunits: A135 , A49 , A43 , and A14.5. A different monoclonal antibody directed against the largest subunit, A190 , was obtained by immunizing a mouse with RNA polymerase A dissociated into its subunits with SDS. Two antibodies, which probably recognized the same antigenic determinant on subunit A135 , inhibited in vitro RNA synthesis. Inhibition was prevented by preincubation of the enzyme with DNA, suggesting a role for the A135 subunit in template binding. The antibody directed against A14.5 interacted with the A14.5 kd subunit present in all three forms of the yeast nuclear RNA polymerases but did not interfere with RNA polymerase activity. These antibody probes will be useful to study subunit function in reconstituted transcription systems.

DNA-dependent RNA polymerases of archaebacteria not only resemble the nuclear RNA polymerases of eukaryotes rather than the eubacterial enzymes in their complex component patterns but also show striking immunochemical, i.e., structural, homology with the eukaryotic polymerases at the level of single components. Thus, eukaryotic and archaebacterial RNA polymerases are indeed of the same type, distinct from the eubacterial enzymes, which, however, are also derived from a common ancestral structure.