The presence of two tightly bound Zn2+ ions is essential for the structural and functional integrity of yeast RNA polymerase II

Gene
S MayalaguD Chatterji

Abstract

DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RNApol) are Zn2+ metalloproteins where the Zn2+ ion plays both catalytic and structural roles. Although the ubiquitous presence of Zn2+ with the RNApol from eukaryotes had already been established, the exact stoichiometry of Zn2+ ion(s) per mole enzyme is not well documented, and its role in enzymatic function remains elusive. We show here that RNApolII from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has two Zn2+ ions tightly associated with it which are necessary for its transcriptional activity. Upon prolonged dialysis against 10 mM EDTA for 4-5 h, the enzyme loses one Zn2+, as well as partial activity. However, Zn2+ can be added back to the enzyme, but without recovering its total activity. 5 mM orthophenanthroline (OP) removes one Zn2+ within 2 h; the enzyme, however, cannot be reconstituted back with Zn2+. Circular dichroism (CD) studies showed that the conformation of the native enzyme is unique and cannot be reproduced with Zn2+-reconstituted RNApolII. Similarly, the rate of abortive synthesis of a dinucleotide product over a non-specific template is faster when catalyzed by two Zn2+-native enzymes. Zn2+-reconstituted RNApolII or one Zn2+-RNApolII showed a slower abortive synthesis rate. 65Zn2+-blotting expe...Continue Reading

References

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