Snap(c): A core promoter factor with a built-in DNA-binding damper that is deactivated by the Oct-1 POU domain

Vivek Mittal, Beicong Ma, Nouria Hernandez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

snRNA gene transcription is activated in part by recruitment of SNAP(c) to the core promoter through protein-protein contacts with the POU domain of the enhancer-binding factor Oct-1. We show that a mini-SNAP(c) consisting of a subset of SNAP(c) subunits is capable of directing both RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and Pol III snRNA gene transcription. Mini-SNAP(c) cannot be recruited by Oct-1, but binds as efficiently to the promoter as SNAP(c) together with Oct-1 and directs activated RNA Pol III transcription. Thus, SNAP(c) represses its own binding to DNA, and repression is relieved by interactions with the Oct-1 POU domain that promote cooperative binding. We have shown previously that TBP also represses its own binding, and in that case repression is relieved by cooperative interactions with SNAP(c). This may represent a general mechanism to ensure that core promoter-binding factors, which have strikingly slow off-rates, are recruited specifically to promoter sequences rather than to cryptic-binding sites in the genome.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1807-1821
Number of pages15
JournalGenes and Development
Volume13
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 15 1999

Keywords

  • Mini-SNAP(c);Transcription activation
  • Oct-1 POU
  • PSE
  • SNAP(c)
  • SnRNA genes
  • TBP

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Developmental Biology

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