8S5N

RNA polymerase II core initially transcribing complex with an ordered RNA of 12 nt

Summary for 8S5N

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb8s5n/pdb
• EMDB information: 19743
• Descriptor: DNA-directed RNA polymerase subunit, DNA-directed RNA polymerases I, II, and III subunit RPABC5, DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit RPB11-a, ... (25 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: rna polymerase ii, promoter escape, de novo transcription, transcription
• Biological source: Homo sapiens (human); More
• Total number of polymer chains: 23
• Total formula weight: 923621.31

Authors

Zhan, Y.,Grabbe, F.,Oberbeckmann, E.,Dienemann, C.,Cramer, P. (deposition date: 2024-02-24, release date: 2024-04-10, Last modification date: 2024-05-15)

Primary citation

Zhan, Y.,Grabbe, F.,Oberbeckmann, E.,Dienemann, C.,Cramer, P.
Three-step mechanism of promoter escape by RNA polymerase II.
Mol.Cell, 84:1699-1710.e6, 2024

PubMed Abstract: The transition from transcription initiation to elongation is highly regulated in human cells but remains incompletely understood at the structural level. In particular, it is unclear how interactions between RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) and initiation factors are broken to enable promoter escape. Here, we reconstitute RNA Pol II promoter escape in vitro and determine high-resolution structures of initially transcribing complexes containing 8-, 10-, and 12-nt ordered RNAs and two elongation complexes containing 14-nt RNAs. We suggest that promoter escape occurs in three major steps. First, the growing RNA displaces the B-reader element of the initiation factor TFIIB without evicting TFIIB. Second, the rewinding of the transcription bubble coincides with the eviction of TFIIA, TFIIB, and TBP. Third, the binding of DSIF and NELF facilitates TFIIE and TFIIH dissociation, establishing the paused elongation complex. This three-step model for promoter escape fills a gap in our understanding of the initiation-elongation transition of RNA Pol II transcription.

PubMed: 38604172
DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.03.016

Experimental method

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (3.4 Å)