Article abstract


Nature Cell Biology 6, 1165 - 1172 (2004)
Published online: 21 November 2004 | doi:10.1038/ncb1190

Nuclear actin and myosin I are required for RNA polymerase I transcription

Vlada V. Philimonenko1,5, Jian Zhao2,5, Sebastian Iben2, Hana Dingová1, Katarína Kyselá1, Michal Kahle1, Hanswalter Zentgraf3, Wilma A. Hofmann4, Primal de Lanerolle4, Pavel Hozák1 & Ingrid Grummt2


The presence of actin and nuclear myosin I (NMI) in the nucleus suggests a role for these motor proteins in nuclear functions. We have investigated the role of actin and nuclear myosin I (NMI) in the transcription of ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA). Both proteins are associated with rDNA and are required for RNA polymerase I (Pol I) transcription. Microinjection of antibodies against actin or NMI, as well as short interfering RNA-mediated depletion of NMI, decreased Pol I transcription in vivo, whereas overexpression of NMI augmented pre-rRNA synthesis. In vitro, recombinant NMI activated Pol I transcription, and antibodies to NMI or actin inhibited Pol I transcription both on naked DNA and pre-assembled chromatin templates. Whereas actin associated with Pol I, NMI bound to Pol I through the transcription-initiation factor TIF-IA. The association with Pol I requires phosphorylation of TIF-IA at Ser 649 by RSK kinase, indicating a role for NMI in the growth-dependent regulation of rRNA synthesis.

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  1. Department of Cell Ultrastructure and Molecular Biology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague 14220, Czech Republic.
  2. Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell II, German Cancer Research Center, D-69118 Heidelberg, Germany.
  3. Applied Tumorvirology, German Cancer Research Center, D-69118 Heidelberg, Germany.
  4. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago IL 60612, USA.
  5. These authors contributed equally to this work.

Correspondence to: Ingrid Grummt2 e-mail: i.grummt@dkfz.de



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