Mediator is a multiprotein complex that functions as a transcriptional coactivator in all eukaryotes. It was discovered in 1990 in the lab of Roger D. Kornberg, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. [1] [2] Mediator [a] complexes interact with transcription factors and RNA polymerase II. The main function of mediator complexes is to transmit signals from the transcription factors to the polymerase. [3]
Mediator complexes are variable at the evolutionary, compositional and conformational levels. [3] The first image shows only one "snapshot" of what a particular mediator complex might be composed of, [b] but it certainly does not accurately depict the conformation of the complex in vivo. During evolution, mediator has become more complex. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (a simple eukaryote) is thought to have up to 21 subunits in the core mediator (exclusive of the CDK module), while mammals have up to 26.
Individual subunits can be absent or replaced by other subunits under different conditions. Also, there are many intrinsically disordered regions in mediator proteins, which may contribute to the conformational flexibility seen both with and without other bound proteins or protein complexes. A more realistic model of a mediator complex without the CDK module is shown in the second figure. [4]
The mediator complex is required for the successful transcription by RNA polymerase II. Mediator has been shown to make contacts with the polymerase in the transcription preinitiation complex. [3] A recent model showing the association of the polymerase with mediator in the absence of DNA is shown in the figure to the left. [4] In addition to RNA polymerase II, mediator must also associate with transcription factors and DNA. A model of such interactions is shown in the figure to the right. [5] Note that the different morphologies of mediator do not necessarily mean that one of the models is correct; rather those differences may reflect the flexibility of mediator as it interacts with other molecules. [c] For example, after binding the enhancer and core promoter, the mediator complex undergoes a compositional change in which the kinase module dissociates from the complex to allow association with RNA polymerase II and transcriptional activation. [6]
The Mediator complex is located within the cell nucleus. It is required for the successful transcription of nearly all class II gene promoters in yeast. [7] It works in the same manner in mammals. The mediator functions as a coactivator and binds to the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II holoenzyme, acting as a bridge between this enzyme and transcription factors. [8]
The yeast mediator complex is approximately as massive as a small subunit of a eukaryotic ribosome. The yeast mediator is composed of 25 subunits, while the mammalian mediator complexes are slightly larger. [3] Mediator can be divided into 4 main parts: The head, middle, tail, and the transiently associated CDK8 kinase module. [10]
Mediator subunits have many intrinsically disordered regions called "splines", which may be important to allow the structural changes of the mediator that change the function of the complex. [3] [d] The figure shows how the splines of the Med 14 subunit connect a large portion of the complex together while still allowing flexibility. [4] [e]
Mediator complexes that lack a subunit have been found or produced. These smaller mediators can still function normally in some activity, but lack other capabilities. [3] This indicates a somewhat independent function of some of the subunits while being part of the larger complex.
Another example of structural variability is seen in vertebrates, in which 3 paralogues of subunits of the cyclin-dependent kinase module have evolved by 3 independent gene duplication events followed by sequence divergence. [3]
There is a report that mediator forms stable associations with a particular type of non-coding RNA, ncRNA-a. [11] [f] These stable associations have also been shown to regulate gene expression in vivo, and are prevented by mutations in MED12 that produce the human disease FG syndrome. [11] Thus, the structure of a mediator complex can be augmented by RNA as well as proteinaceous transcription factors. [3]
Mediator was originally discovered because it was important for RNA polymerase II function, but it has many more functions than just interactions at the transcription start site. [3]
Mediator is a crucial component for transcription initiation. Mediator interacts with the pre-initiation complex, composed of RNA Polymerase II and general transcription factors TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, and TFIIH to stabilize and initiate transcription. [12] Studies of Mediator-RNA Pol II contacts in budding yeast have emphasized the importance of TFIIB-Mediator contacts in the formation of the complex. Interactions of Mediator with TFIID in the initiation complex has been shown. [10]
The Structure of a core Mediator (cMed) that's associated with a core pre-initiation complex was elucidated. [12]
The preinitiation complex, which contains a mediator, transcription factors, a nucleosome [13] [14] [g] and RNA polymerase II, is important to position the polymerase for the start of transcription. Before RNA synthesis can occur, the polymerase must dissociate from mediator. This appears to be accomplished by phosphorylation of part of the polymerase by a kinase. Importantly, mediator and transcription factors do not dissociate from the DNA at the time polymerase begins transcription. Rather, the complex remains at the promoter to recruit another RNA polymerase to begin another round of transcription. [3] [h]
There is some evidence to suggest that mediator in a yeast is involved in regulating RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcripts of tRNAs [15] In support of that evidence, an independent report showed specific association of mediator with Pol III in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. [16] Those authors also reported specific associations with RNA polymerase I and proteins involved in transcription elongation and RNA processing, supporting other evidence of mediator's involvement in elongation and processing. [16]
Mediator is involved in "looping" of chromatin, which brings distant regions of a chromosome into closer physical proximity. [3] The ncRNA-a mentioned above [11] is involved in such looping. [i] Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) can function similarly. [3]
In addition to the looping of euchromatin, mediator appears to be involved in formation or maintenance of heterochromatin at centromeres and telomeres. [3]
TGFβ signaling at the cell membrane results in 2 different intracellular pathways. One of them depends on MED15, [j] while the other is independent of MED15. [17] In both human cells and Caenorhabditis elegans MED15 is involved in lipid homeostasis through the pathway involving SREBPs [18] In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana the ortholog of MED15 is required for signaling by the plant hormone Salicylic acid, [19] while MED25 is required for the transcriptional activation of Hypoxia (environmental), jasmonate and shade signalling responses. [20] [21] [22] [23] Two components of the CDK module (MED12 and MED13) are involved in the Wnt signaling pathway [3] MED23 is involved in RAS/MAPK/ERK pathway [3] This abbreviated review shows the versatility of individual mediator subunits, and leads to the idea that mediator is an end-point of signaling pathways. [3]
Involvement of mediator in various human diseases has been reviewed. [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] Since inhibiting one interaction of a disease-causing signaling pathway with a subunit of mediator may not inhibit general transcription needed for normal function, mediator subunits are attractive candidates for therapeutic drugs. [3]
A method employing very gentle cell lysis in yeast followed by co-immunoprecipitation with an antibody to a mediator subunit (Med 17) has confirmed almost all previously reported or predicted interactions and revealed many previously unsuspected specific interactions of various proteins with mediator. [16]
A discussion of all mediator subunits is beyond the scope of this article, but details of one of the subunits are illustrative of the types of information that may be gathered for other subunits.
Micro RNAs are involved in regulating the expression of many proteins. Med1 is targeted by miR-1, which is important in gene regulation in cancers. [35] The tumor suppressor miR-137 also regulates MED1. [36]
Null mutants die at an early gestational age (embryonic day 11.5). [37] [38] By investigating hypomorphic mutants (which can survive 2 days longer), it was found that placental defects were primarily lethal and that there were also defects in cardiac and hepatic development, but many other organs were normal [38]
Conditional mutations can be produced in mice which affect only specific cells or tissues at specific times, so that the mouse can develop to adulthood and the adult phenotype can be studied. In one case, MED1 was found to participate in controlling the timing of events of meiosis in male mice. [39] Conditional mutants in keratinocytes show differences in skin wound healing. [40] A conditional mutant in mice was found to change dental epithelium into epidermal epithelium, which caused hair to grow associated with the incisors. [41]
The Mediator complex is composed at least 31 subunits in all eukaryotes studied: MED1, MED4, MED6, MED7, MED8, MED9, MED10, MED11, MED12, MED13, MED13L, MED14, MED15, MED16, MED17, MED18, MED19, MED20, MED21, MED22, MED23, MED24, MED25, MED26, MED27, MED28, MED29, MED30, MED31, CCNC, and CDK8. There are three fungal-specific components, referred to as Med2, Med3 and Med5. [42]
The subunits form at least three structurally distinct submodules. The head and the middle modules interact directly with RNA polymerase II, whereas the elongated tail module interacts with gene-specific regulatory proteins. Mediator containing the CDK8 module is less active than Mediator lacking this module in supporting transcriptional activation.
Below is a cross-species comparison of mediator complex subunits. [42] [43]
Subunit No. | Human gene | C. elegans gene | D. melanogaster gene | S. cerevisiae gene | Sch. pombe gene |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MED1 | MED1 | Sop3/mdt-1.1, 1.2 | MED1 | MED1 | med1 |
Med2 [k] | MED2 | ||||
Med3 [k] | PGD1 | ||||
MED4 | MED4 | MED4 | MED4 | med4 | |
Med5 [k] | NUT1 | ||||
MED6 | MED6 | MDT-6 | MED6 | MED6 | med6 |
MED7 | MED7 | MDT-7/let-49 | MED7 | MED7 | med7 |
MED8 | MED8 | MDT-8 | MED8 | MED8 | med8 |
MED9 | MED9 | MED9 | CSE2 | ||
MED10 | MED10 | MDT-10 | NUT2 | med10 | |
MED11 | MED11 | MDT-11 | MED11 | MED11 | med11 |
MED12 | MED12 | MDT-12/dpy-22 | MED12 | SRB8 | srb8 |
MED12L | MED12L | ||||
MED13 | MED13 | MDT-13/let-19 | MED13 | SSN2 | srb9 |
MED14 | MED14 | MDT-14/rgr-1 | MED14 | RGR1 | med14 |
MED15 | MED15 | mdt-15 | MED15 | GAL11 | YN91_SCHPO [l] |
MED16 | MED16 | MED16 | SIN4 | ||
MED17 | MED17 | MDT-17 | MED17 | SRB4 | med17 |
MED18 | MED18 | MDT-18 | MED18 | SRB5 | med18 |
MED19 | MED19 | MDT-19 | MED19 | ROX3 [42] | med19 |
MED20 | MED20 | MDT-20 | MED20 | SRB2 | med20 |
MED21 | MED21 | MDT-21 | MED21 | SRB7 | med21 |
MED22 | MED22 | MDT-22 | MED22 | SRB6 | med22 |
MED23 | MED23 | MDT-23/sur-2 | MED23 | ||
MED24 | MED24 | MED24 | |||
MED25 | MED25 | MED25 | |||
MED26 | MED26 | MED26 | |||
MED27 | MED27 | MED27 | med27 | ||
MED28 | MED28 | MED28 | |||
MED29 | MED29 | MDT-19 | MED29 | ||
MED30 | MED30 | MED30 | |||
MED31 | MED31 | MDT-31 | MED31 | SOH1 | med31 |
CCNC | CCNC | cic-1 | CycC | SSN8 | pch1 |
CDK8 | CDK8 | cdk-8 | Cdk8 | SSN3 | srb10 |
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.
The TATA-binding protein (TBP) is a general transcription factor that binds to a DNA sequence called the TATA box. This DNA sequence is found about 30 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site in some eukaryotic gene promoters.
Transcription factor TFIIA is a nuclear protein involved in the RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription of DNA. TFIIA is one of several general (basal) transcription factors (GTFs) that are required for all transcription events that use RNA polymerase II. Other GTFs include TFIID, a complex composed of the TATA binding protein TBP and TBP-associated factors (TAFs), as well as the factors TFIIB, TFIIE, TFIIF, and TFIIH. Together, these factors are responsible for promoter recognition and the formation of a transcription preinitiation complex (PIC) capable of initiating RNA synthesis from a DNA template.
DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit RPB1, also known as RPB1, is an enzyme that is encoded by the POLR2A gene in humans.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 1 also known as DRIP205 or Trap220 is a subunit of the Mediator complex and is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MED1 gene. MED1 functions as a nuclear receptor coactivator.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription, subunit 12 homolog , also known as MED12, is a human gene found on the X chromosome.
Transcription initiation factor TFIID subunit 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TAF4 gene.
Activated RNA polymerase II transcriptional coactivator p15 also known as positive cofactor 4 (PC4) or SUB1 homolog is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SUB1 gene. The human SUB1 gene is named after an orthologous gene in yeast.
Cell division protein kinase 8 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the CDK8 gene.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 21 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MED21 gene.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 6 is one of the subunits of the Mediator complex. It is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MED6 gene.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 4 also known as mediator complex subunit 4 (MED4), a component of Mediator or vitamin D3 receptor-interacting protein complex 36 kDa component (DRIP36) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MED4 gene.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 15, also known as Gal11, Spt13 in yeast and PCQAP, ARC105, or TIG-1 in humans is a protein encoded by the MED15 gene.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 17 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MED17 gene.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 7 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MED7 gene.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 25 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MED25 gene.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 27 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MED27 gene. It forms part of the Mediator complex.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 26 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MED26 gene. It forms part of the Mediator complex.
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.
Mediator complex subunit 13 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MED13 gene.
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