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Abstract: In mammalian cells RNA polymerase II efficiently transcribes nucleosome-packaged DNA. In this regard, a fundamental question concerns the nature and mechanism of action of the accessory factors that are necessary and sufficient for, or enhance, transcription through nucleosomal arrays by RNA polymerase II. Here we describe a highly purified system that allows for efficient activator-dependent transcription by RNA polymerase II from the promoter through several contiguous nucleosomes on defined chromatin templates. The system contains natural or recombinant histones, chromatin assembly factors, the histone-acetyltransferase p300, all components of the general transcription machinery, general coactivators and the elongation factor SII (TFIIS). As examples of the applicability of this system for mechanistic analyses of these and other factors, representative experiments show (i) that activated transcription from chromatin templates is concomitantly dependent on the activator, p300-mediated histone acetylation and elongation factor SII/TFIIS. (ii) that SII/TFIIS acts in a highly synergistic manner with p300 (and histone acetylation) at a step subsequent to preinitiation complex (PIC) formation and (iii) that SII/TFIIS works directly at the elongation step of chromatin transcription. Here we describe purification methods for the different factors employed and the specific transcriptional assays that led to the above-mentioned conclusions. This purified system will be very useful as an assay system for the discovery of new factors or the mechanistic analysis of known or candidate factors involved in transcription initiation or elongation on chromatin templates, including factors that effect specific histone modifications or nucleosomal remodeling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: H2B ubiquitylation has been implicated in active transcription but is not well understood in mammalian cells. Beyond earlier identification of hBRE1 as the E3 ligase for H2B ubiquitylation in human cells, we now show (1) that hRAD6 serves as the cognate E2-conjugating enzyme; (2) that hRAD6, through direct interaction with hPAF-bound hBRE1, is recruited to transcribed genes and ubiquitylates chromatinized H2B at lysine 120; (3) that hPAF-mediated transcription is required for efficient H2B ubiquitylation as a result of hPAF-dependent recruitment of hBRE1-hRAD6 to the Pol II transcription machinery; (4) that H2B ubiquitylation per se does not affect the level of hPAF-, SII-, and p300-dependent transcription and likely functions downstream; and (5) that H2B ubiquitylation directly stimulates hSET1-dependent H3K4 di- and trimethylation. These studies establish the natural H2B ubiquitylation factors in human cells and also detail the mechanistic basis for H2B ubiquitylation and function during transcription. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

TFIID, a multisubunit protein comprised of TBP (TATA box-binding protein) and TAFIIs (TBP-associated factors), has a central role in transcription initiation at class II promoters. TAFIIs role as mediators of regulatory transcription factors, such as pRb and p53, and their involvement in signal transduction pathways suggest that some may participate in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation: therefore, they could be considered potential protooncogenes or antioncogenes. With the aim of starting to analyse these potential roles, we have determined the genomic position of nine human TAFII genes (TAFII250, TAFII135, TAFII100, TAFII80, TAFII55, TAFII43, TAFII31, TAFII28, TAFII20/15) and of two previously unknown sequences related to TAFII250 and TAFII31, respectively. Except for those encoding TAFII250 and TAFII31, these genes are present in a single copy and, with the exclusion of those for TAFII43 and TAFII28 (both at 6p21), are localized in different segments of the genome. Indeed, six of them map to a chromosomal region commonly altered in specific neoplasias, which defines them as candidates for involvement in oncogenesis. Our experiments also demonstrate that TAFII transcripts are synthesized ubiquitously, mostly at low levels similar to those of TBP. Interestingly, the amount of the major mRNA species detected by TAFII20/15 cDNA is higher, which suggests that the polypeptide it encodes may also perform functions independently of TFIID. TAFII isoforms, indicated by additional bands on Northern blots, may play a role in modulation of TFIID function. These data will be useful for analysing variations of TAFII mRNA phenotype during cell proliferation, differentiation and development, both normal and pathological. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediator is a general coactivator complex connecting transcription activators and RNA polymerase II. Recent work has shown that the nuclear receptor-interacting MED1/TRAP220 subunit of Mediator is required for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ (PPARγ)-stimulated adipogenesis of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). However, the molecular mechanisms remain undefined. Here, we show an intracellular PPARγ-Mediator interaction that requires the two LXXLL nuclear receptor recognition motifs on MED1/TRAP220 and, furthermore, we show that the intact LXXLL motifs are essential for optimal PPARγ function in a reconstituted cell-free transcription system. Surprisingly, a conserved N-terminal region of MED1/TRAP220 that lacks the LXXLL motifs but gets incorporated into Mediator fully supports PPARγ-stimulated adipogenesis. Moreover, in undifferentiated MEFs, MED1/TRAP220 is dispensable both for PPARγ-mediated target gene activation and for recruitment of Mediator to a PPAR response element on the aP2 target gene promoter. However, PPARγ shows significantly reduced transcriptional activity in cells deficient for a subunit (MED24/TRAP100) important for the integrity of the Mediator complex, indicating a general Mediator requirement for PPARγ function. These results indicate that there is a conditional requirement for MED1/TRAP220 and that a direct interaction between PPARγ and Mediator through MED1/TRAP220 is not essential either for PPARγ-stimulated adipogenesis or for PPARγ target gene expression in cultured fibroblasts. As Mediator is apparently essential for PPARγ transcriptional activity, our data indicate the presence of alternative mechanisms for Mediator recruitment, possibly through intermediate cofactors or other cofactors that are functionally redundant with MED1/TRAP220. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]