Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA-dependent RNA polymerases in bovine spermatozoa

DNA-dependent RNA polymerases have been solubilized from separated head and tail fractions from normal bovine spermatozoa and from spermatozoa carrying the 'decapitated sperm defect'. When enzyme extracts from separated heads and tails were chromatographed on DEAE-Sephadex, the head fraction was resolved into 2 distinguishable peaks eluting at about 0.11 and 0.15 M-(NH4)2SO4 while the tail fraction yielded 4 distinct peaks eluting at about 0.11, 0.15, 0.255 and 0.35 M-(NH4)2SO4. Results indentical to those observed for sperm tails were obtained with extracts prepared from highly purified mitochondria from bovine or murine heart or liver. Optimization of reaction parameters and inhibitor studies with alpha-amanitin and rifampicin revealed strong similarities between eucaryotic nuclear RNA polymerases 1 and 2 and the 2 RNA polymerases associated with sperm heads. Similar experiments comparing the RNA polymerases from somatic mitochondria and sperm tails suggested the sperm tail enzymes were mitochondrial in origin.     

RNA polymerase activity in germinating onion seeds

Frozen sections of endosperm cut from dry unimbibed onion seed were immersed in an aqueous solution of tritium labelled triphosphate; nucleolar RNA polymerase (ribonucleoside triphosphate: RNA nucleotidyltransferase E.C. 2.7.7.6) activity was detected by autoradiography after soaking for 10–15 min in the solution of the radioactive nucleotide. Throughout germination, activity appears to be mainly confined to the nucleolus with chromatin incorporation being very low or non-existent. In the embryo, in contrast to the endosperm, chromatin activity is initiated after 1 hr presoaking, while the nucleolus displays a lag of several hours. No incorporation could be detected in vivo before 18 hr.     

Platelet activating factor activity in the phospholipids of bovine spermatozoa

Platelet activating factor (PAF) has been detected in sperm from several mammalian species and can affect sperm motility and fertilization. Because bovine sperm contain a high percentage of ether-linked phospholipid precursors required for PAF synthesis, a study was undertaken to determine the PAF activity of bovine sperm phospholipids. Total lipids of washed, ejaculated bull sperm were extracted, and phospholipids were fractionated by thin-layer chromatography. Individual phospholipid fractions were assayed for PAF activity on the basis of [3H]serotonin release from equine platelets. PAF activity was detected in the PAF fraction (1.84 pmol/mumol total phospholipid) and in serine/inositol (PS/PI), choline (CP), and ethanolamine phosphoglyceride (EP) and cardiolipin (CA) fractions. Activity was highest in the CP fraction (8.05 pmol/mumol total phospholipid). Incomplete resolution of PAF and neutral lipids may have contributed to the activity in the PS/PI and CA fractions, respectively. Phospholipids from nonsperm sources did not stimulate serotonin release. Platelet activation by purified PAF and by sperm phospholipid fractions was inhibited by the receptor antagonist SRI 63-675. These results indicate that bovine sperm contain PAF and that other sperm phospholipids, especially CP and EP, which are high in glycerylether components, are capable of receptor-mediated platelet activation.     

Comparison of bovine RNA polymerase III promoters for short hairpin RNA expression

RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by DNA-based expression of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) is a powerful method of sequence-specific gene knockdown. A number of vectors for expression of shRNA have been developed that feature promoters from RNA polymerase III (pol III)-transcribed genes of mouse or human origin. To advance the use of RNAi as a tool for functional genomic research and for future development of specific therapeutics in the bovine species, we have developed shRNA expression vectors that feature novel bovine RNA pol III promoters. We characterized two bovine U6 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) promoters (bU6-2 and bU6-3) and a bovine 7SK snRNA promoter (b7SK). We compared the efficiency of each of these promoters to express shRNA molecules. Promoter activity was measured in the context of RNAi by targeting and suppressing the reporter gene encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein. Results show that the b7SK promoter induced the greatest level of suppression in a range of cell lines. The comparison of these bovine promoters in shRNA expression is an important component for the future development of bovine-specific RNAi-based research.     

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity associated with endogenous double-stranded RNA in rice

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) activity was detected in the crude microsomal fraction of rice cultured cells that contain a 14 kbp double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). RdRp activity is maximal in the presence of all four nucleotide triphosphates and Mg2+ ion and is resistant to inhibitors of DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (actinomycin D and alpha-amanitin). RdRp activity increases approximately 2.5-fold in the presence of 0.5% deoxycholate. Treatment of purified microsomal fraction with proteinase K plus deoxycholate suggests that the RdRp enzyme complex with its own 14 kb RNA template is located in vesicles. The RdRp enzyme complex was solubilized with Nonidet P-40 and purified by glycerol gradient centrifugation, then exogenous RNA templates were added. Results indicate that exogenous dsRNA reduces RNA synthesis from the endogenous 14 kb RNA template.     

6S RNA regulates E. coli RNA polymerase activity

The E. coli 6S RNA was discovered more than three decades ago, yet its function has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that 6S RNA associates with RNA polymerase in a highly specific and efficient manner. UV crosslinking experiments revealed that 6S RNA directly contacts the sigma70 and beta/beta' subunits of RNA polymerase. 6S RNA accumulates as cells reach the stationary phase of growth and mediates growth phase-specific changes in RNA polymerase. Stable association between sigma70 and core RNA polymerase in extracts is only observed in the presence of 6S RNA. We show 6S RNA represses expression from a sigma70-dependent promoter during stationary phase. Our results suggest that the interaction of 6S RNA with RNA polymerase modulates sigma70-holoenzyme activity.     

Alterations in myocardial RNA synthesis and RNA polymerase activity during normal growth

The effect of normal growth (hypertrophy) on myocardial nuclear activity was investigated using male Wistar rats at 21, 50, and 100 days of age. Cardiac mass increased sevenfold during this age range. The concentration of RNA (mg X g-1) was the highest at 21 days and decreased 48% by 50 days of age and 68% after 100 days of development. RNA synthesis, corrected for alterations in the specific activity of the cytoplasmic nucleotide pool, was the highest at 21 days of age. After 50 days of growth, uridine incorporation was decreased fivefold. With continual growth (100 days), RNA synthesis was still reduced compared with the 21-day animals. RNA polymerase activity in myocyte nuclei showed little change in activity from 21 to 100 days of age. However, in the nonmyocyte fraction, RNA polymerase decreased threefold after 50 days of development. Collectively, these data suggest that the large decrease in myocardial RNA synthesis cannot be accounted for by a change in nuclear RNA polymerase activity and that an alteration in chromatin template capacity may be involved during this form of cardiac growth.     

Transcription of 5S RNA by RNA polymerase III from genomic bovine DNA templates

RNA polymerase III in an extract of HeLa cells transcribes RNA 5S in size from genomic bovine DNA template. This RNA represents a major fraction of the RNA synthesized. 5S RNA is not transcribed from bovine chromatin at equivalent concentrations and RNA the size of tRNA or tRNA precursor is not detected. At low UTP concentrations RNA slightly smaller in size than 5S is synthesized in addition to 5S RNA.     

The mechanism of pyrophosphorolysis of RNA by RNA polymerase. Endowment of RNA polymerase with artificial exonuclease activity.

DNA-directed RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli can break down RNA by catalysing the reverse of the reaction: NTP + (RNA)n = (RNA)n+1 + PPi where n indicates the number of nucleotide residues in the RNA molecule, to yield nucleoside triphosphates. This reaction requires the ternary complex of the polymerase with template DNA and the RNA that it has synthesized. It is now shown that methylenebis(arsonic acid) [CH2(AsO3H2)2], arsonomethylphosphonic acid (H2O3As-CH2-PO3H2) and arsonoacetic acid (H2O3As-CH2-CO2H) can replace pyrophosphate in this reaction. When they do so, the low-Mr products of the reaction prove to be nucleoside 5'-phosphates, so that the arsenical compounds endow the polymerase with an artificial exonuclease activity, an effect previously found by Rozovskaya, Chenchik, Tarusova, Bibilashvili & Khomutov [(1981) Mol. Biol. (Moscow) 15, 636-652] for phosphonoacetic acid (H2O3P-CH2-CO2H). This is explained by instability of the analogues of nucleoside triphosphates believed to be the initial products. Specificity of recognition of pyrophosphate is discussed in terms of the sites, beta and gamma, for the -PO3H2 groups of pyrophosphate that will yield P-beta and P-gamma of the nascent nucleoside triphosphate. Site gamma can accept -AsO3H2 in place of -PO3H2, but less well; site beta can accept both, and also -CO2H. We suggest that partial transfer of an Mg2+ ion from the attacking pyrophosphate to the phosphate of the internucleotide bond of the RNA may increase the nucleophilic reactivity of the pyrophosphate and the electrophilicity of the diester, so that the reaction is assisted.     

Characterization of the ATP-phosphohydrolase activity of bovine spermatozoa flagellar extracts.

The ATP-phosphohydrolase activity of extracts prepared from bovine spermatozoa flagella (BSFE), was characterized with respect to enzyme, substrate, activator ion and salt concentration, temperature dependence and time stability. BSFE required the presence of a divalent cation for activity: Mg++ or Ca++ could function as activator; Mn++, Zn++ and Cd++ could not. EDTA, but not EGTA, was inhibitory to enzymatic activity. Ca++ inhibited the Mg++ stimulated activity. ATP was dephosphorylated more rapidly than GTP greater than CTP greater than ITP, and ADP was dephosphorylated at 40% of the rate of ATP. The magnesium activated ATPase was stimulated by potassium and inhibited by sodium ions. Activation of BSFE ATP-phosphohydrolase was maximal in the presence of Mg++ and ATP in equimolar concentrations and K+ (0.05-0.3 M) at 30 degrees C. Although the enzymatic activity of the extract was found to decrease rapidly with time, it could be maintained for up to three days by the addition of 2-beta-mercaptoethanol to the bovine spermatozoa flagellar extracts.     

Identification of a beta-like DNA polymerase activity in bovine heart mitochondria

A new DNA polymerase activity, distinct from DNA polymerase gamma, has been identified in bovine heart mitochondria. First detected among proteins isolated in a complex with mitochondrial DNA, the DNA polymerase activity has been partially purified 47,000-fold. Enzyme activity separates from DNA polymerase gamma on several chromatographic columns and appears to copurify with a 38 +/- 2-kDa polypeptide. Unlike DNA polymerase gamma, this enzyme is relatively resistant to inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide and dideoxynucleotides, has moderately low monovalent and high divalent cation requirements, and possesses 20-fold-higher apparent K(m) values for deoxynucleotides. The enzyme polymerizes deoxynucleotides onto a primed template DNA in a relatively nonprocessive fashion and lacks a detectable 3' to 5' exonuclease activity. Many of these characteristics resemble a beta-like mitochondrial DNA polymerase previously identified in, and considered unique to, trypanosomes. We propose that the bovine and trypanosomal enzymes are related and represent a new class of ubiquitous mitochondrial DNA polymerases.