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. 1997 Jan 2;16(1):163–172. doi: 10.1093/emboj/16.1.163

Identification of a transcript release activity acting on ternary transcription complexes containing murine RNA polymerase I.

S W Mason 1, E E Sander 1, I Grummt 1
PMCID: PMC1169623  PMID: 9009277

Abstract

Termination of mammalian ribosomal gene transcription by RNA polymerase I (Pol I) requires binding of the nucleolar factor TTF-I (transcription termination factor for Pol I) to specific rDNA terminator elements. We have used recombinant murine TTF-I in an immobilized tailed template assay to analyze individual steps of the termination reaction. We demonstrate that, besides the TTF-I-DNA complex which stops elongating Pol I, an additional activity is required to release both the nascent transcript and Pol I from the template. Moreover, transcript release, but not TTF-I-directed pausing, depends on upstream sequences directly flanking the terminator element. Together, complete termination of Pol I transcription requires TTF-I bound to the terminator DNA, a stretch of thymidine residues upstream of the TTF-I-mediated pause site and an activity which releases the RNA transcript and Pol I from the DNA template.

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Selected References

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