CDK12 and CDK13 regulate POLII elongation rate and processivity and influence the selection of transcription termination sites.
The RNA polymerase II (POLII)–driven transcription cycle is tightly ...regulated at distinct checkpoints by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and their cognate cyclins. The molecular events underpinning transcriptional elongation, processivity, and the CDK-cyclin pair(s) involved remain poorly understood. Using CRISPR-Cas9 homology-directed repair, we generated analog-sensitive kinase variants of CDK12 and CDK13 to probe their individual and shared biological and molecular roles. Single inhibition of CDK12 or CDK13 induced transcriptional responses associated with cellular growth signaling pathways and/or DNA damage, with minimal effects on cell viability. In contrast, dual kinase inhibition potently induced cell death, which was associated with extensive genome-wide transcriptional changes including widespread use of alternative 3′ polyadenylation sites. At the molecular level, dual kinase inhibition resulted in the loss of POLII CTD phosphorylation and greatly reduced POLII elongation rates and processivity. These data define substantial redundancy between CDK12 and CDK13 and identify both as fundamental regulators of global POLII processivity and transcription elongation.
Translation in eukaryotic cells is both physically and temporally separated from transcription. This provides cells with extended options to alter their proteome: (1) directly, by synchronizing ...translation with an altering transcriptional profile; (2) by imposing a changed translational control over transcripts already present in the transcriptome; or (3) by a combination of (1) and (2). In this paper, recent findings in the controlled translation of the transcriptome using microarray analyses are reviewed. A guide to the current technologies and data analysis is also provided, and future directions in the study of translational control as the interface between the transcriptome and the proteome are outlined. This survey is focused on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but the topics covered have universal relevance to the control of translation in eukaryotic cells.
Abstract
Nemaline myopathy 8 (NEM8) is typically a severe autosomal recessive disorder associated with variants in the kelch-like family member 40 gene (KLHL40). Common features include fetal ...akinesia, fractures, contractures, dysphagia, respiratory failure and neonatal death. Here, we describe a 26-year-old man with relatively mild NEM8. He presented with hypotonia and bilateral femur fractures at birth, later developing bilateral Achilles’ contractures, scoliosis, and elbow and knee contractures. He had walking difficulties throughout childhood and became wheelchair bound from age 13 after prolonged immobilization. Muscle magnetic resonance imaging at age 13 indicated prominent fat replacement in his pelvic girdle, posterior compartments of thighs and vastus intermedius. Muscle biopsy revealed nemaline bodies and intranuclear rods. RNA sequencing and western blotting of patient skeletal muscle indicated significant reduction in KLHL40 mRNA and protein, respectively. Using gene panel screening, exome sequencing and RNA sequencing, we identified compound heterozygous variants in KLHL40; a truncating 10.9 kb deletion in trans with a likely pathogenic variant (c.*152G > T) in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR). Computational tools SpliceAI and Introme predicted the c.*152G > T variant created a cryptic donor splice site. RNA-seq and in vitro analyses indicated that the c.*152G > T variant induces multiple de novo splicing events that likely provoke nonsense mediated decay of KLHL40 mRNA explaining the loss of mRNA expression and protein abundance in the patient. Analysis of 3’ UTR variants in ClinVar suggests variants that introduce aberrant 3’ UTR splicing may be underrecognized in Mendelian disease. We encourage consideration of this mechanism during variant curation.
SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) are central components of the machinery mediating membrane fusion in all eukaryotic cells. Sequence analysis of the ...yeast genome revealed a previously uncharacterized SNARE, SNARE-like tail-anchored protein 1 (Slt1). Slt1 is an essential protein localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). It forms a SNARE complex with Sec22 and the ER syntaxin Ufe1. Down-regulation of Slt1 levels leads to improper secretion of proteins normally resident in the ER. We suggest that Slt1 is a component of the SNAREpin required for retrograde traffic to the ER. Based on the previously reported association with Ufe1 and Sec22, Sec20 likely contributes the fourth SNARE to the SNAREpin.
Transcription‐induced recombination has been reported in all organisms from bacteria to mammals. We have shown previously that the yeast genes HPR1 and THO2 may be keys to the understanding of ...transcription‐associated recombination, as they both affect transcription elongation and hyper‐recombination in a concerted manner. Using a yeast strain that has the wild‐type THO2 gene replaced by one encoding a His6‐HA‐tagged version, we have isolated an oligomeric complex containing four proteins: Tho2, Hpr1, Mft1 and a novel protein that we have named Thp2. We have reciprocally identified a complex containing Hpr1, Tho2 and Mft1 using anti‐Mft1 antibodies in immunoprecipitation experiments. The protein complex is mainly nuclear; therefore, Tho2 and Hpr1 are physically associated. Like hpr1Δ and tho2Δ cells, mft1Δ and thp2Δ cells show mitotic hyper‐ recombination and impaired transcription elongation, in particular, through the bacterial lacZ sequence. Hyper‐recombination conferred by mft1Δ and thp2Δ is only observed in DNA regions under transcription conditions. We propose that this protein complex acts as a functional unit connecting transcription elongation with the incidence of mitotic recombination.
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