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. 1987 Jul 24;15(14):5699–5713. doi: 10.1093/nar/15.14.5699

The requirement for the A block promoter element in tRNA gene transcription in vitro depends on the ionic environment.

O S Gabrielsen, T B Oyen
PMCID: PMC306016  PMID: 3302945

Abstract

When yeast cell extracts that faithfully transcribe class III genes are provided with different electrolyte ions, the pattern of transcripts changes. A transcription unit in pBR322, silent with 0.1M potassium chloride, becomes active in the presence of 0.1M potassium acetate. This pseudogene depends on transcription factors B and C and RNA polymerase III like a tRNA gene. The transcribed region contains the only sequence in pBR322 homologous to the modified B block consensus sequence GTTCRDNNC found in normal tRNA genes. The presence of a block A sequence is less evident. When a block A deleted tRNA(GLU) gene was constructed, it behaved similarly: poorly transcribed with 0.1M potassium chloride, well transcribed with 0.1M potassium acetate. In fact, the deletion of the A block promoter element from the tRNA(GLU) gene did not dramatically lower its transcription when tested with potassium acetate, while it had a strong negative effect when tested with potassium chloride. Consequently the requirement for this promoter element is not constant but is a function of the electrolyte composition.

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Selected References

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