DSIF (DRB Sensitivity Inducing Factor) is a protein complex that can either negatively or positively affect transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II). [2] It can interact with the negative elongation factor (NELF) to promote the stalling of Pol II at some genes, which is called promoter proximal pausing. [3] The pause occurs soon after initiation, once 20–60 nucleotides have been transcribed. [3] This stalling is relieved by positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) and Pol II enters productive elongation to resume synthesis till finish. [1] In humans, DSIF is composed of hSPT4 and hSPT5. [2] hSPT5 has a direct role in mRNA capping which occurs while the elongation is paused. [4]
SPT5 is preserved in humans to bacteria. [5] SPT4 and SPT5 in yeast are the homologs of hSPT4 and hSPT5. [2] [6] In bacteria, the homologous complex only contains NusG, a Spt5 homolog. [7] Archaea have both proteins. [8]
The complex locks the RNA polymerase (RNAP) clamp into a closed state to prevent the elongation complex (EC) from dissociating. The Spt5 NGN domain helps anneal the two strands of DNA upstream. The single KOW domain in bacteria and archaea anchors a ribosome to the RNAP. [8]
DSIF plays the same role for HIV-1 gene expression as it would normally in transcription. [9] [10] This is because P-TEFb phosphorylates DSIF the same regardless of whether or not P-TEFb goes through normal cellular regulation or bypasses it due to Tat. [11]
RNA polymerase II is a multiprotein complex that transcribes DNA into precursors of messenger RNA (mRNA) and most small nuclear RNA (snRNA) and microRNA. It is one of the three RNAP enzymes found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. A 550 kDa complex of 12 subunits, RNAP II is the most studied type of RNA polymerase. A wide range of transcription factors are required for it to bind to upstream gene promoters and begin transcription.
Eukaryotic transcription is the elaborate process that eukaryotic cells use to copy genetic information stored in DNA into units of transportable complementary RNA replica. Gene transcription occurs in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Unlike prokaryotic RNA polymerase that initiates the transcription of all different types of RNA, RNA polymerase in eukaryotes comes in three variations, each translating a different type of gene. A eukaryotic cell has a nucleus that separates the processes of transcription and translation. Eukaryotic transcription occurs within the nucleus where DNA is packaged into nucleosomes and higher order chromatin structures. The complexity of the eukaryotic genome necessitates a great variety and complexity of gene expression control.
The positive transcription elongation factor, P-TEFb, is a multiprotein complex that plays an essential role in the regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II in eukaryotes. Immediately following initiation Pol II becomes trapped in promoter proximal paused positions on the majority of human genes. P-TEFb is a cyclin dependent kinase that can phosphorylate the DRB sensitivity inducing factor (DSIF) and negative elongation factor (NELF), as well as the carboxyl terminal domain of the large subunit of Pol II and this causes the transition into productive elongation leading to the synthesis of mRNAs. P-TEFb is regulated in part by a reversible association with the 7SK snRNP. Treatment of cells with the P-TEFb inhibitors DRB or flavopidirol leads to loss of mRNA production and ultimately cell death.
Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 or CDK9 is a cyclin-dependent kinase associated with P-TEFb.
DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit RPB1, also known as RPB1, is an enzyme that is encoded by the POLR2A gene in humans.
DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit RPB2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the POLR2B gene.
DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit RPB4 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the POLR2D gene.
Transcription elongation factor SPT5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SUPT5H gene.
General transcription factor IIH subunit 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GTF2H4 gene.
Transcription elongation factor A protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TCEA1 gene.
HIV Tat-specific factor 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HTATSF1 gene.
Negative elongation factor E is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RDBP gene.
Cofactor of BRCA1, also known as COBRA1, is a human gene that encodes NELF-B.
Transcription elongation factor SPT4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SUPT4H1 gene.
Negative elongation factor A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WHSC2 gene.
Negative elongation factor C/D is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TH1L gene.
General transcription factor IIF subunit 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GTF2F2 gene.
RNA polymerase II holoenzyme is a form of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II that is recruited to the promoters of protein-coding genes in living cells. It consists of RNA polymerase II, a subset of general transcription factors, and regulatory proteins known as SRB proteins.
In molecular biology, the NELF is a four-subunit protein complex that negatively impacts transcription by RNA polymerase II by pausing about 20-60 nucleotides downstream from the transcription start site (TSS).
Archaeal transcription is the process in which a segment of archaeal DNA is copied into a newly synthesized strand of RNA using the sole Pol II-like RNA polymerase (RNAP). The process occurs in three main steps: initiation, elongation, and termination; and the end result is a strand of RNA that is complementary to a single strand of DNA. A number of transcription factors govern this process with homologs in both bacteria and eukaryotes, with the core machinery more similar to eukaryotic transcription.