An Integrated Model for Termination of RNA Polymerase III Transcription

Overview

Journal Sci Adv

Specialties Biology
Science

Date 2022 Jul 20

PMID 35857496

Authors

Juanjuan Xie

Umberto Aiello

Yves Clement

Nouhou Haidara

Mathias Girbig

Jana Schmitzova

Vladimir Pena

Christoph W Muller

Domenico Libri

Odil Porrua

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

RNA polymerase III (RNAPIII) synthesizes essential and abundant noncoding RNAs such as transfer RNAs. Controlling RNAPIII span of activity by accurate and efficient termination is a challenging necessity to ensure robust gene expression and to prevent conflicts with other DNA-associated machineries. The mechanism of RNAPIII termination is believed to be simpler than that of other eukaryotic RNA polymerases, solely relying on the recognition of a T-tract in the nontemplate strand. Here, we combine high-resolution genome-wide analyses and in vitro transcription termination assays to revisit the mechanism of RNAPIII transcription termination in budding yeast. We show that T-tracts are necessary but not always sufficient for termination and that secondary structures of the nascent RNAs are important auxiliary cis-acting elements. Moreover, we show that the helicase Sen1 plays a key role in a fail-safe termination pathway. Our results provide a comprehensive model illustrating how multiple mechanisms cooperate to ensure efficient RNAPIII transcription termination.

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