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DNA topoisomerase IIα is required for RNA polymerase II transcription on chromatin templates

Nature volume 413, pages 435–438 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

In the nucleus of the cell, core RNA polymerase II (pol II) is associated with a large complex called the pol II holoenzyme (holo-pol)1,2. Transcription by core pol II in vitro on nucleosomal templates is repressed compared with that on templates of histone-free naked DNA3,4,5. We found that the transcriptional activity of holo-pol, in contrast to that of core pol II, is not markedly repressed on chromatin templates. We refer to this property of holo-pol as chromatin-dependent coactivation (CDC). Here we show that DNA topoisomerase IIα is associated with the holo-pol and is a required component of CDC. Etoposide and ICRF-193, specific inhibitors of topoisomerase II, blocked transcription on chromatin templates, but did not affect transcription on naked templates. Addition of purified topoisomerase IIα reconstituted CDC activity in reactions with core pol II. These findings suggest that transcription on chromatin templates results in the accumulation of superhelical tension, making the relaxation activity of topoisomerase II essential for productive RNA synthesis on nucleosomal DNA.

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Figure 1: Pol II holoenzyme is qualitatively different from core pol II for transcription on chromatin templates.
Figure 2: Topoisomerase IIα associated with holo-pol is required for CDC.
Figure 3: Topoisomerase IIα rescues transcriptional activity on chromatin by core pol II.
Figure 4: Model for requirement of topoisomerase IIα activity in pol II transcription.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. Dutta, J. Wohlschlagel, Z. Jonsson and S. K. Dhar for encouragement and advice throughout the course of this study; U. Banerjee, M. Kannapiran and W. Wei for preparation of extracts; and J. C. Wang for the gift of ICRF-193. This work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

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  1. Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Neelima Mondal & Jeffrey D. Parvin

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  1. Neelima Mondal
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  2. Jeffrey D. Parvin
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Correspondence to Jeffrey D. Parvin.

Supplementary information

Figure S1

(JPG 19.9 KB)

Micrococcal nuclease digestion of chromatin templates. Naked DNA templates and different chromatin preparations were tested for sensitivity to digestion by micrococcal nuclease. Naked DNA (panel a) was completely digested by nuclease after 2 minutes in the presence of the enzyme, whereas chromatin templates without added topoisomerase (panel b) or with topoisomerase IIa (panel c) were resistant to extended treatment (15 min) with the nuclease. In each set of reactions, the template was incubated with micrococcal nuclease at 37℃ for 0 min (lanes 1, 5), 2 min (lanes 2, 6), 5 min (lanes 3, 7) or 15 min (lanes 4, 8).

Figure S2

(JPG 7.23 KB)

Assessment of the purity of topoisomerase preparation. DNA topoisomerase IIa was subjected to SDS-PAGE and stained with silver. The topoisomerase IIa preparation contains a single polypeptide migrating at 170 kd, consistent with its known molecular mass.

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Mondal, N., Parvin, J. DNA topoisomerase IIα is required for RNA polymerase II transcription on chromatin templates. Nature 413, 435–438 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35096590

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