Efficient reconstitution of transcription elongation complexes for single-molecule studies of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II

Transcription. 2012 May-Jun;3(3):146-53. doi: 10.4161/trns.20269.

Abstract

Single-molecule studies of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) require high yields of transcription elongation complexes (TECs) with long DNA tethers upstream and downstream of the TEC. Here we report on a robust system to reconstitute both yeast and mammalian RNAP II with an efficiency of ~80% into TECs that elongate with an efficiency of ~90%, followed by rapid, high-efficiency tripartite ligation of long DNA fragments upstream and downstream of the reconstituted TECs. Single mammalian and yeast TECs reconstituted with this method have been successfully used in an optical-trapping transcription assay capable of applying forces that either assist or hinder transcript elongation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Fragmentation
  • Mammals / genetics
  • Mammals / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA Polymerase II / genetics
  • RNA Polymerase II / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors / genetics
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Transcriptional Elongation Factors
  • RNA Polymerase II
  • RPB1 protein, S cerevisiae