Mechanism of transcription through the nucleosome by eukaryotic RNA polymerase

Vasily M. Studitsky; George A. Kassavetis; E. Peter Geiduschek; Gary Felsenfeldt

doi:10.1126/science.278.5345.1960

Mechanism of transcription through the nucleosome by eukaryotic RNA polymerase

Vasily M. Studitsky, George A. Kassavetis, E. Peter Geiduschek, Gary Felsenfeldt

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

176 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nucleosomes, the nucleohistone subunits of chromatin, are present on transcribed eukaryotic genes but do not prevent transcription. It is shown here that the large yeast RNA polymerase III transcribes through a single nucleosome. This takes place through a direct internal nucleosome transfer in which histories never leave the DNA template. During this process, the polymerase pauses with a pronounced periodicity of 10 to 11 base pairs, which is consistent with restricted rotation in the DNA loop formed during transfer. Transcription through nucleosomes by the eukaryotic enzyme and by much smaller prokaryotic RNA polymerases thus shares many features, reflecting an important property of nucleosomes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1960-1963
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	278
Issue number	5345
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.278.5345.1960
State	Published - Dec 12 1997

Keywords

Base Sequence
Binding Sites
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases/metabolism
DNA/chemistry
Histones/metabolism
Models, Genetic
Molecular Sequence Data
Nucleic Acid Conformation
Nucleosomes/genetics
Promoter Regions, Genetic
RNA Polymerase III/metabolism
Templates, Genetic
Transcription, Genetic

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10.1126/science.278.5345.1960

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title = "Mechanism of transcription through the nucleosome by eukaryotic RNA polymerase",

abstract = "Nucleosomes, the nucleohistone subunits of chromatin, are present on transcribed eukaryotic genes but do not prevent transcription. It is shown here that the large yeast RNA polymerase III transcribes through a single nucleosome. This takes place through a direct internal nucleosome transfer in which histories never leave the DNA template. During this process, the polymerase pauses with a pronounced periodicity of 10 to 11 base pairs, which is consistent with restricted rotation in the DNA loop formed during transfer. Transcription through nucleosomes by the eukaryotic enzyme and by much smaller prokaryotic RNA polymerases thus shares many features, reflecting an important property of nucleosomes.",

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doi = "10.1126/science.278.5345.1960",

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AU - Studitsky, Vasily M.

AU - Kassavetis, George A.

AU - Geiduschek, E. Peter

AU - Felsenfeldt, Gary

PY - 1997/12/12

Y1 - 1997/12/12

N2 - Nucleosomes, the nucleohistone subunits of chromatin, are present on transcribed eukaryotic genes but do not prevent transcription. It is shown here that the large yeast RNA polymerase III transcribes through a single nucleosome. This takes place through a direct internal nucleosome transfer in which histories never leave the DNA template. During this process, the polymerase pauses with a pronounced periodicity of 10 to 11 base pairs, which is consistent with restricted rotation in the DNA loop formed during transfer. Transcription through nucleosomes by the eukaryotic enzyme and by much smaller prokaryotic RNA polymerases thus shares many features, reflecting an important property of nucleosomes.

AB - Nucleosomes, the nucleohistone subunits of chromatin, are present on transcribed eukaryotic genes but do not prevent transcription. It is shown here that the large yeast RNA polymerase III transcribes through a single nucleosome. This takes place through a direct internal nucleosome transfer in which histories never leave the DNA template. During this process, the polymerase pauses with a pronounced periodicity of 10 to 11 base pairs, which is consistent with restricted rotation in the DNA loop formed during transfer. Transcription through nucleosomes by the eukaryotic enzyme and by much smaller prokaryotic RNA polymerases thus shares many features, reflecting an important property of nucleosomes.

KW - Base Sequence

KW - Binding Sites

KW - DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases/metabolism

KW - DNA/chemistry

KW - Histones/metabolism

KW - Models, Genetic

KW - Molecular Sequence Data

KW - Nucleic Acid Conformation

KW - Nucleosomes/genetics

KW - Promoter Regions, Genetic

KW - RNA Polymerase III/metabolism

KW - Templates, Genetic

KW - Transcription, Genetic

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JO - Science

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Mechanism of transcription through the nucleosome by eukaryotic RNA polymerase

Abstract

Keywords

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