A Cryo-EM Structure of KTF1-bound Polymerase V Transcription Elongation Complex

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2023 May 30

PMID 37253723

Authors

Hong-Wei Zhang

Kun Huang

Zhan-Xi Gu

Xiao-Xian Wu

Jia-Wei Wang

Yu Zhang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

De novo DNA methylation in plants relies on transcription of RNA polymerase V (Pol V) along with KTF1, which produce long non-coding RNAs for recruitment and assembly of the DNA methylation machinery. Here, we report a cryo-EM structure of the Pol V transcription elongation complex bound to KTF1. The structure reveals the conformation of the structural motifs in the active site of Pol V that accounts for its inferior RNA-extension ability. The structure also reveals structural features of Pol V that prevent it from interacting with the transcription factors of Pol II and Pol IV. The KOW5 domain of KTF1 binds near the RNA exit channel of Pol V providing a scaffold for the proposed recruitment of Argonaute proteins to initiate the assembly of the DNA methylation machinery. The structure provides insight into the Pol V transcription elongation process and the role of KTF1 during Pol V transcription-coupled DNA methylation.

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