Redox Signaling by the RNA Polymerase III TFIIB-Related Factor Brf2.

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Authors

Gouge, J
Satia, K
Guthertz, N
Widya, M
Thompson, AJ
Cousin, P
Dergai, O
Hernandez, N
Vannini, A

Document Type

Journal Article

Date

2015-12-03

Date Accepted

2015-10-23

Abstract

TFIIB-related factor 2 (Brf2) is a member of the family of TFIIB-like core transcription factors. Brf2 recruits RNA polymerase (Pol) III to type III gene-external promoters, including the U6 spliceosomal RNA and selenocysteine tRNA genes. Found only in vertebrates, Brf2 has been linked to tumorigenesis but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We have solved crystal structures of a human Brf2-TBP complex bound to natural promoters, obtaining a detailed view of the molecular interactions occurring at Brf2-dependent Pol III promoters and highlighting the general structural and functional conservation of human Pol II and Pol III pre-initiation complexes. Surprisingly, our structural and functional studies unravel a Brf2 redox-sensing module capable of specifically regulating Pol III transcriptional output in living cells. Furthermore, we establish Brf2 as a central redox-sensing transcription factor involved in the oxidative stress pathway and provide a mechanistic model for Brf2 genetic activation in lung and breast cancer.

Citation

Cell, 2015, 163 (6), pp. 1375 - 1387

Source Title

Publisher

CELL PRESS

ISSN

0092-8674

eISSN

1097-4172

Research Team

Vannini Group

Notes