DNA-dependent RNA polymerases from Drosophila melanogaster adults: Isolation and partial characterization

In preparation for the isolation and biochemical characterization of putative RNA polymerase mutants, DNA-dependent RNA polymerases of Drosophila melanogaster adults were isolated and partially characterized. Approximately 70% of the female adult RNA polymerase is located in ovaries. Multiple forms of ovarian RNA polymerases I and II are separable by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. The two forms of RNA polymerase II differ in ammonium sulfate optima. RNA polymerase IIA is more active with double-stranded DNA as template, whereas RNA polymerase IIB transcribes single-stranded DNA most efficiently. Rechromatography of RNA polymerase IIA on DEAE-Sephadex results in the loss of ability of this form to transcribed double-stranded DNA most efficiently. Ovariectomized carcasses have two forms of RNA polymerase I and one form of RNA polymerase II and each transcribes single-stranded DNA most efficiently. As judged by gel filtration chromatography, female adult extracts have forms of RNA polymerase II that differ in molecular weight and template preference.Supported by Grants GM23456 from the NIH and 11259 from the City University Research Foundation.     

RNA polymerase II acts as an RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase to extend and destabilize a non‐coding RNA

RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a well‐characterized DNA‐dependent RNA polymerase, which has also been reported to have RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) activity. Natural cellular RNA substrates of mammalian Pol II, however, have not been identified and the cellular function of the Pol II RdRP activity is unknown. We found that Pol II can use a non‐coding RNA, B2 RNA, as both a substrate and a template for its RdRP activity. Pol II extends B2 RNA by 18 nt on its 3′‐end in an internally templated reaction. The RNA product resulting from extension of B2 RNA by the Pol II RdRP can be removed from Pol II by a factor present in nuclear extracts. Treatment of cells with α‐amanitin or actinomycin D revealed that extension of B2 RNA by Pol II destabilizes the RNA. Our studies provide compelling evidence that mammalian Pol II acts as an RdRP to control the stability of a cellular RNA by extending its 3′‐end.     

DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II from nuclei of suspension-cultured tobacco cells

From isolated nuclei of suspension cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum. DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II (E.C. 2.7.76) has been purified to homogeneity as evidenced by polyacrylamidegel electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of more than 15 nmol min^-1·mg^-1 with denatured calf thymus DNA as template. Sodium-dodecyl-sulfate gel electrophoresis and protein highperformance liquid chromatography revealed a subunit composition of four proteins with molecular weights of 165 000, 135 000, 35 000 and 25 000 and with a stoichiometry of 1:1:2:2. The RNA polymerase did not exhibit any detectable proteinkinase activity. The 25 000 subunit binds ADP in a molar ratio of 1:1; it could not be decided whether this subunit has an ATPase activity or is merely an acceptor of ADP.Abbreviations HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate This contribution is dedicated to Professor Fritz Cramer on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

siRNA降低肿瘤细胞端粒酶活性的研究

利用T7RNA聚合酶在体外转录合成针对端粒酶模板RNA(hTR)的两条互补单链RNA,经退火形成siRNA.采用TRAP法检测端粒酶活性,分析siRNA在肿瘤细胞裂解液的干扰作用.结果表明:T7RNA聚合酶可以高效地转录出短的单链RNA,制备的siRNA可明显地降低肿瘤端粒酶的活性,其降低肿瘤端粒酶活性的作用强于等量的反义链RNA.该法廉价、高效、简易,有可能为肿瘤的基因治疗提供一种新的探索途径.     

γ-射线对大鼠小肠粘膜上皮细胞RNA合成的影响及其机理的研究

本文观察了15戈瑞γ-射线全身照射后,大鼠小肠粘膜上皮细胞核体外转录活性,从染色质结合的RNA聚合酶和可溶性RNA聚合酶活性变化探讨辐射对核转录活性的抑制机理。实验结果表明:(1)照后2小时、8小时和24小时,核转录活性分别下降22.7％、20.8％和28.2％;(2)染色质结合的RNA聚合酶活性变化与细胞核转录活性变化基本平行,提示核转录活性降低与核内染色质损伤有关;(3)照后24小时,核分离的可溶性RNA聚合酶抑制58％,提示辐射至少部分是通过抑制RNA聚合酶而影响细胞核转录活性;(4)在细胞核和分离的RNA聚合酶都观察到RNA聚合酶Ⅱ抑制程度大于RNA聚合酶Ⅰ和酶Ⅲ,酶活性下降主要表现在RNA聚合酶Ⅱ提示不同类RNA聚合酶对辐射的敏感性不同,酶Ⅱ对辐射更敏感。     

Effect of cytokinins on ribosomal RNA gene expression in excised cotyledons of Cucurbita pepo L.

Excised pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) cotyledons were used to investigate the effects of two different types of cytokinins: N⁶-benzyladenine and N₁-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N₂-phenylurea on RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei. Treatment of cotyledons with both cytokinins resulted in a rapid enhancement of nuclear RNA-polymerase-I activity (EC 2.7.7.6). Maximum stimulation of RNA polymerase I, responsible for rRNA synthesis, was observed 4–6 h after the start of cytokinin action. The activity of RNA polymerase II was stimulated much more slowly and to a lesser extent. Uridine 5-monophosphate-uridine analysis of the alkalidigested nascent pre-rRNA chains showed that the stimulation of RNA-polymerase-I activity was the consequence of an increase of the polyribonucleotide-clongation rate. No significant change in the number of transcribing enzyme molecules was defected after hormone treatment (86·10³ RNA-polymerase-I molecules per diploid genome).Indications that de-novo protein synthesis is necessary for cytokinin-mediated RNA-polymerase stimulation were derived from experiments showing inhibition by cycloheximide.Abbreviations BA N⁶-benzyladenine - [PU]-30 N₁-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N₂-phenylurea - UMP undine 5-monophosphate - UTP udine 5-triphosphate     

RNA template-mediated inhibition of hepatitis C virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity

The enzymatic activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase NS5B is modulated by the molar ratio of NS5B enzyme and RNA template. Depending on the ratio, either template or enzyme can inhibit activity. Inhibition of NS5B activity by RNA template exhibited characteristics of substrate inhibition, suggesting the template binds to a secondary site on the enzyme forming an inactive complex. Template inhibition was modulated by primer. Increasing concentrations of primer restored NS5B activity and decreased the affinity of template for the secondary site. Conversely, increasing template concentration reduced the affinity of primer binding. The kinetic profiles suggest template inhibition results from the binding of template to a site that interferes with primer binding and the formation of productive replication complexes.     

Polymerase ribozyme efficiency increased by G/T-rich DNA oligonucleotides

The RNA world hypothesis states that the early evolution of life went through a stage where RNA served as genome and as catalyst. The replication of RNA world organisms would have been facilitated by ribozymes that catalyze RNA polymerization. To recapitulate an RNA world in the laboratory, a series of RNA polymerase ribozymes was developed previously. However, these ribozymes have a polymerization efficiency that is too low for self-replication, and the most efficient ribozymes prefer one specific template sequence. The limiting factor for polymerization efficiency is the weak sequence-independent binding to its primer/template substrate. Most of the known polymerase ribozymes bind an RNA heptanucleotide to form the P2 duplex on the ribozyme. By modifying this heptanucleotide, we were able to significantly increase polymerization efficiency. Truncations at the 3'-terminus of this heptanucleotide increased full-length primer extension by 10-fold, on a specific template sequence. In contrast, polymerization on several different template sequences was improved dramatically by replacing the RNA heptanucleotide with DNA oligomers containing randomized sequences of 15 nt. The presence of G and T in the random sequences was sufficient for this effect, with an optimal composition of 60% G and 40% T. Our results indicate that these DNA sequences function by establishing many weak and nonspecific base-pairing interactions to the single-stranded portion of the template. Such low-specificity interactions could have had important functions in an RNA world.     

Characterization of an α-amanitin insensitive RNA polymerase from cauliflower

α-Amanitin insensitive RNA polymerase (polymerase I isolated from apical parts of the cauliflower inflorescence was highly stable for several months at − 18°. The DEAE-cellulose fraction was more effective in utilizing denatured DNA than native DNA as a template. Optimum pH for RNA synthesis was ca 7 in the reaction mixture with Tris-HCl or with Tris-maleate buffer. From the properties examined, it seems that DNA-dependent RNA polymerase I of cauliflower differs from other eucaryotic RNA polymerases.     

大鼠衰老过程中肝细胞核及染色质的体外转录活性

用同位素掺入法研究不同年龄大鼠的肝细胞核及染色质体外转录活性,所得结果表明:(1)老年大鼠肝细胞核的转录起始能力较断乳鼠及青年鼠分别下降68％及56％。(2)大鼠肝细胞核内与染色质结合的RNA聚合酶所致的转录活性随增龄呈近似线性下降,而不与染色质结合的RNA聚合酶所致的转录活性随增龄则无变化。(3)老年大鼠肝染色质体外转录活性较断乳鼠及青年鼠分别下降52％及35％。这些结果提示。老年大鼠肝染色质功能的改变可能是转录活性改变的主要原因。     

Localization of the replicase recognition site within brome mosaic virus RNA by hybrid-arrested RNA synthesis

Summary 3 terminal fragments of BMV RNA as short as 153 bases in length serve as efficient templates in vitro for BMV-specific RNA polymerase. Template activity of such fragments or of native BMV RNA is abolished when cDNA fragments as short as 39 bases are hybridized to their 3 termini. Hybridization of cDNa fragments to regions of BMV RNA 200 or more bases distal to the 3 end has no discernible effect on initiation and little effect on elongation. We conclude that BMV RNA polymerase initiates binding with an RNA template through a mechanism mediated by the tRNA-like 3 end of BMV RNA, requiring at least some of the last 39, but no more than the last 153 bases.