Genome-wide analysis of factors affecting transcription elongation and DNA repair: a new role for PAF and Ccr4-not in transcription-coupled repair

PLoS Genet. 2009 Feb;5(2):e1000364. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000364. Epub 2009 Feb 6.

Abstract

RNA polymerases frequently deal with a number of obstacles during transcription elongation that need to be removed for transcription resumption. One important type of hindrance consists of DNA lesions, which are removed by transcription-coupled repair (TC-NER), a specific sub-pathway of nucleotide excision repair. To improve our knowledge of transcription elongation and its coupling to TC-NER, we used the yeast library of non-essential knock-out mutations to screen for genes conferring resistance to the transcription-elongation inhibitor mycophenolic acid and the DNA-damaging agent 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide. Our data provide evidence that subunits of the SAGA and Ccr4-Not complexes, Mediator, Bre1, Bur2, and Fun12 affect transcription elongation to different extents. Given the dependency of TC-NER on RNA Polymerase II transcription and the fact that the few proteins known to be involved in TC-NER are related to transcription, we performed an in-depth TC-NER analysis of a selection of mutants. We found that mutants of the PAF and Ccr4-Not complexes are impaired in TC-NER. This study provides evidence that PAF and Ccr4-Not are required for efficient TC-NER in yeast, unraveling a novel function for these transcription complexes and opening new perspectives for the understanding of TC-NER and its functional interconnection with transcription elongation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA Repair / physiology*
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / genetics
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / metabolism
  • DNA, Fungal / metabolism
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / genetics
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / metabolism
  • Genome, Fungal*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src) / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src) / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Ribonucleases / genetics
  • Ribonucleases / physiology*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / physiology*
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / metabolism

Substances

  • Bre1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • DNA, Fungal
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2
  • FUN12 protein, S cerevisiae
  • RNA, Messenger
  • SAGA complex, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • RAD6 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes
  • Matk protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src)
  • CCR4 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Ribonucleases
  • DNA Repair Enzymes