Antibodies to the DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit RPB1 occur with highest frequency in centenarians

Cloning and sequence determination of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe rpb1 gene encoding the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II.

The gene, rpb1, encoding the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II has been cloned from Schizosaccharomyces pombe using the corresponding gene, RPB1, of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a cross-hybridization probe. We have determined the complete sequence of this gene, and parts of PCR-amplified rpb1 cDNA. The predicted coding sequence, interrupted by six introns, encodes a polypeptide of 1,752 amino...

Single-peptide DNA-dependent RNA polymerase homologous to multi-subunit RNA polymerase

Transcription in all living organisms is accomplished by multi-subunit RNA polymerases (msRNAPs). msRNAPs are highly conserved in evolution and invariably share a ∼400 kDa five-subunit catalytic core. Here we characterize a hypothetical ∼100 kDa single-chain protein, YonO, encoded by the SPβ prophage of Bacillus subtilis. YonO shares very distant homology with msRNAPs, but no homology with sing...

RNA polymerase II subunit RPB7 is required for RNA polymerase I mediated transcription in Trypanosoma brucei

DNA photodamage recognition by RNA polymerase II.

During gene transcription, RNA polymerase (Pol) II encounters obstacles, including lesions in the DNA template. Here, we review a recent structure-function analysis of Pol II transcribing DNA with a bulky photo-lesion in the template strand. The study provided the molecular basis for recognition of a damaged DNA by Pol II, which is the first step in transcription-coupled DNA repair (TCR). The r...

RNA-directed DNA-polymerase activity in Greene hamster melanoma.

The present investigation is concerned with the search for RNA-directed DNApolymerase activity in human and hamster melanoma cells in both in vivo tumors and tumor cells grown in tissue culture. The assays and techniques employed are based upon model studies carried out in this laboratory with the enzyme from avian myeloblastoses virus, and feline sarcoma, and lymphoma virus. In recent years, s...