Summary information and primary citation

PDB-id
5oa1; SNAP-derived features in text and JSON formats; DNAproDB
Class
transcription
Method
cryo-EM (4.4 Å)
Summary
RNA polymerase i pre-initiation complex
Reference
Sadian Y, Tafur L, Kosinski J, Jakobi AJ, Wetzel R, Buczak K, Hagen WJ, Beck M, Sachse C, Muller CW (2017): "Structural insights into transcription initiation by yeast RNA polymerase I." EMBO J., 36, 2698-2709. doi: 10.15252/embj.201796958.
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, RNA polymerase I (Pol I) synthesizes precursor ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA) that is subsequently processed into mature rRNA. To initiate transcription, Pol I requires the assembly of a multi-subunit pre-initiation complex (PIC) at the ribosomal RNA promoter. In yeast, the minimal PIC includes Pol I, the transcription factor Rrn3, and Core Factor (CF) composed of subunits Rrn6, Rrn7, and Rrn11. Here, we present the cryo-EM structure of the 18-subunit yeast Pol I PIC bound to a transcription scaffold. The cryo-EM map reveals an unexpected arrangement of the DNA and CF subunits relative to Pol I. The upstream DNA is positioned differently than in any previous structures of the Pol II PIC. Furthermore, the TFIIB-related subunit Rrn7 also occupies a different location compared to the Pol II PIC although it uses similar interfaces as TFIIB to contact DNA. Our results show that although general features of eukaryotic transcription initiation are conserved, Pol I and Pol II use them differently in their respective transcription initiation complexes.

Cartoon-block schematics in six views (download the tarball)

PyMOL session file Download PDB file View in 3Dmol.js