Biomedical subjects

Z Pasman

Publications and source records attributed to Z Pasman.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Regulation of rho-dependent transcription termination by NusG is specific to the Escherichia coli elongation complex.

To terminate transcription in E. coli, Rho protein binds an RNA loading site on the nascent transcript, translocates 5'--> 3' along the RNA in an ATP-driven process, and, upon reaching the transcription elongation complex, brings about RNA release. Thus, the Rho-dependent termination process can be viewed, in part, as a kinetic competition between the rate of transcript elongation by RNA polymerase (RNAP) and the rate of Rho translocation along the nascent transcript. In the context of this model, NusG, which is an essential E. coli protein, regulates Rho-dependent termination in an apparently paradoxical way, increasing the rate of transcription elongation of E. coli RNAP in the absence of Rho while also shifting the sites of Rho-dependent termination upstream on the template. Here we investigate the regulation of Rho-dependent termination by NusG. Analytical ultracentrifugation was used to establish the existence of a stable complex of NusG and Rho and to demonstrate a stoichiometry of one NusG monomer per Rho hexamer. Surface plasmon resonance was used to examine the kinetics of the formation and dissociation of the NusG-Rho complex, yielding an association rate constant (k(on)) of 2.8 (+/-0.8) x 10(5) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), a dissociation rate constant (k(off)) of 3.9 (+/-0.7) x 10(-)(3) s(-)(1), and a calculated equilibrium (dissociation) constant (K(d)) of 1.5 (+/-0.3) x 10(-)(8) M. The apparent stability of the NusG-Rho complex is insensitive to changes in salt (potassium acetate) concentration between 0.05 and 0.15 M. The translocation and transcription termination activities of Rho at saturating NusG concentrations were, however, both sensitive to salt concentration over this range, suggesting that these activities do not directly reflect the stability of the NusG-Rho complex. Rho-dependent termination could be demonstrated for transcription complexes in which E. coli RNAP had been substituted by either bacteriophage SP6 or T7 RNAP. NusG, however, was not active in transcription termination assays with either of these phage RNAPs. Thus, we conclude that NusG modulates Rho-dependent termination by interacting specifically with the RNAP of the E. coli elongation complex to render the complex more susceptible to the termination activity of Rho.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed1996

The 5' and 3' splice sites come together via a three dimensional diffusion mechanism.

We present evidence that the splice sites in mammalian pre-mRNAs are brought together via a three dimensional diffusion mechanism. We tested two mechanisms for splice site pairing: a lateral diffusion ('scanning') model and the currently favored three dimensional diffusion ('jumping') model. Two lines of evidence that distinguish between these two models are presented. The first utilized bipartite splicing substrates tethered by double-stranded RNA stems predicted to provide either a moderate or severe block to splice site pairing via a scanning mechanism. Splice site pairing via a jumping mechanism was expected to be unaffected or affected minimally. The second approach utilized a flexible poly(ethylene glycol) moiety within the intron. This insertion was predicted to reduce scanning efficiency but not the efficiency of a three dimensional diffusion mechanism. The best explanation for the data with the bipartite RNAs is that splice site pairing occurs through three dimensional diffusion. Kinetic analysis of the poly(ethylene glycol) containing substrate showed that neither the lag phase nor the initial rates of mRNA production and spliceosome assembly were affected by this insertion. Therefore, both experimental approaches supported the three dimensional diffusion model of splice site pairing.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Exon circularization in mammalian nuclear extracts.

Correct ligation of exons in pre-mRNA splicing requires splice site juxtaposition (splice site pairing), usually involving a 5' splice site and a downstream 3' splice site. Splicing of a 5' splice site to an upstream 3' splice site, however, is predicted to result in a circular RNA. This mode of splice site pairing across the axon has been hypothesized to account for rare RNAs containing scrambled exons (Nigro JM et al., 1991, Celt 64:607-613; Cocquerelle C et al., 1992, EMBO J 11:1 095-1098). Additionally, this mode of splice site pairing has been postulated to explain the formation of SRY circular transcripts in mouse testis (Capel B et al., 1993, Celt 73:1019- 1030). Here we show that splice site pairing across the exon can result in exon circularization in vitro. These results indicate that spliceosome-mediated axon circularization indeed can account for the formation of scrambled exons and circular RNAs. Exon circularization efficiency decreased dramatically as the length of the exon was increased from 95 nt to 274 nt. Circularization of this longer exon was restored, however, when intronic complementary sequences were included in the RNA substrate. These complementary sequences could form a stem that served to bring the splice sites into proximity and thereby promote splice site pairing. Therefore, the splicing of this structured RNA recapitulated SRY-like exon circularization in vitro.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1995

U1 snRNP-ASF/SF2 interaction and 5' splice site recognition: characterization of required elements.

Members of the SR family of proteins, can collaborate with U1 snRNP in the recognition of 5' splice sites in pre-messenger RNAs. We have previously shown that purified U1 snRNP and ASF/SF2 form a ternary complex with pre-mRNA, which is dependent on a functional 5' splice site. In this manuscript we dissect the requirements for the formation of this complex. Sequences in the pre-mRNA, domains in ASF/SF2 and components of the U1 snRNP particle are shown to be required for complex formation. We had shown that sequences at the 5' splice site of PIP7. A are necessary and now we show these are sufficient for complex formation. Furthermore, we show that one functional RNA binding domain and the RS domain are both required for ASF/SF2 to participate in complex formation. The RNA binding domains were redundant in this assay, suggesting that either domain can interact with the pre-messenger RNA. Finally, our experiments show no function for the U1-specific A protein in complex formation, whereas a function for U1-specific C protein was strongly suggested. The study of the earliest interactions between pre-mRNA and splicing factors suggests a model for 5' splice site recognition.

Animals↗