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THZ1 Reveals Roles for Cdk7 in Co-transcriptional Capping and Pausing
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

THZ1 Reveals Roles for Cdk7 in Co-transcriptional Capping and Pausing

Kyle A Nilson, Jiannan Guo, Michael E Turek, John E Brogie, Elizabeth Delaney, Donal S Luse and David H Price
Molecular cell, Vol.59(4), pp.576-587
08/20/2015
DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2015.06.032
PMCID: PMC4546572
PMID: 26257281
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2015.06.032View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The Cdk7 subunit of TFIIH phosphorylates RNA polymerase II (Pol II) during initiation, and, while recent studies show that inhibition of human Cdk7 negatively influences transcription, the mechanisms involved are unclear. Using in vitro transcription with nuclear extract, we demonstrate that THZ1, a covalent Cdk7 inhibitor, causes defects in Pol II phosphorylation, co-transcriptional capping, promoter proximal pausing, and productive elongation. THZ1 does not affect initiation but blocks essentially all Pol II large subunit C-terminal domain (CTD) phosphorylation. We found that guanylylation of nascent RNAs is length dependent and modulated by a THZ1-sensitive factor present in nuclear extract. THZ1 impacts pausing through a capping-independent block of DSIF and NELF loading. The P-TEFb-dependent transition into productive elongation was also inhibited by THZ1, likely due to loss of DSIF. Capping and pausing were also reduced in THZ1-treated cells. Our results provide mechanistic insights into THZ1 action and how Cdk7 broadly influences transcription and capping.
Phosphorylation Cyclin-Dependent Kinases - metabolism Transcription Factors - chemistry Humans Transcriptional Elongation Factors - chemistry Pyrimidines - chemistry Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology Cyclin-Dependent Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors Transcription Initiation, Genetic RNA Polymerase II - chemistry Protein Structure, Tertiary Promoter Regions, Genetic Cyclin-Dependent Kinases - chemistry RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional Nuclear Proteins - metabolism Pyrimidines - pharmacology Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry Nuclear Proteins - chemistry Transcription Factors - metabolism Transcriptional Elongation Factors - metabolism Phenylenediamines - pharmacology Protein Processing, Post-Translational HeLa Cells Kinetics Phenylenediamines - chemistry

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