Mapping the protein interaction network for TFIIB-related factor Brf1 in the RNA polymerase III preinitiation complex

Mol Cell Biol. 2014 Feb;34(3):551-9. doi: 10.1128/MCB.00910-13. Epub 2013 Nov 25.

Abstract

TFIIB-related factor Brf1 is essential for RNA polymerase (Pol) III recruitment and open-promoter formation in transcription initiation. We site specifically incorporated a nonnatural amino acid cross-linker into Brf1 to map its protein interaction targets in the preinitiation complex (PIC). Our cross-linking analysis in the N-terminal domain of Brf1 indicated a pattern of multiple protein interactions reminiscent of TFIIB in the Pol active-site cleft. In addition to the TFIIB-like protein interactions, the Brf1 cyclin repeat subdomain is in contact with the Pol III-specific C34 subunit. With site-directed hydroxyl radical probing, we further revealed the binding between Brf1 cyclin repeats and the highly conserved region connecting C34 winged-helix domains 2 and 3. In contrast to the N-terminal domain of Brf1, the C-terminal domain contains extensive binding sites for TBP and Bdp1 to hold together the TFIIIB complex on the promoter. Overall, the domain architecture of the PIC derived from our cross-linking data explains how individual structural subdomains of Brf1 integrate the protein network from the Pol III active center to the promoter for transcription initiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • Blotting, Western
  • Mutation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods
  • Protein Interaction Maps*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA Polymerase III / chemistry
  • RNA Polymerase III / genetics
  • RNA Polymerase III / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • TATA-Box Binding Protein / genetics
  • TATA-Box Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor TFIIB / genetics
  • Transcription Factor TFIIB / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor TFIIIB / chemistry
  • Transcription Factor TFIIIB / genetics
  • Transcription Factor TFIIIB / metabolism*
  • Transcription Initiation, Genetic*

Substances

  • BRF1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • TATA-Box Binding Protein
  • Transcription Factor TFIIB
  • Transcription Factor TFIIIB
  • RNA Polymerase III
  • RPC34 protein, S cerevisiae