Regulation of heat shock gene expression by RNA polymerase II elongation factor, Elongin A.

Abstract

The elongation stage of transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) has emerged as an essential regulated step. Elongin A (EloA) is the largest subunit of the Elongin complex that can increase the catalytic rate of mRNA synthesis by Pol II. We recently demonstrated that the Elongin A homologue in Drosophila, dEloA, is essential and has properties consistent with those of a Pol II elongation factor in vivo. The goal of this study was to test whether dEloA is required for heat shock gene transcription, since heat shock gene expression is thought to be controlled at the level of Pol II elongation. Here, we demonstrate that dEloA is rapidly recruited to heat shock loci with Pol II in response to heat shock. Furthermore, through the use of RNA interference in vivo, we show that dEloA is required for the proper expression of one of these genes, HSP70, and that its requirement for heat shock gene expression is exerted after the initiation of transcription at heat shock loci. Our data represent the first demonstration of an essential role for an RNA polymerase II elongation factor in the regulation of heat shock gene expression in an animal model.

• Authors: Mark Gerber, Kristen Tenney, Joan W Conaway, Ronald C Conaway, Joel C Eissenberg, Ali Shilatifard
• Journal: The Journal of biological chemistry (J Biol Chem) Vol. 280 Issue 6 Pg. 4017-20 (Feb 11 2005) ISSN: 0021-9258 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15611125 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Elongin
• HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
• Heat-Shock Proteins
• RNA, Messenger
• Recombinant Proteins
• Transcription Factors
• DNA Polymerase II

Topics

• Animals
• Blotting, Northern
• Blotting, Western
• DNA Polymerase II (chemistry)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drosophila melanogaster
• Elongin
• Environment
• Female
• HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins (metabolism)
• Heat-Shock Proteins (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Hot Temperature
• Kinetics
• Male
• Microscopy, Fluorescence
• Phosphorylation
• RNA Interference
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Recombinant Proteins (chemistry)
• Transcription Factors (chemistry, physiology)
• Transcription, Genetic
• Transgenes