QIMR Berghofer

The Integrator complex controls the termination of transcription at diverse classes of gene targets

Abstract

Complexes containing INTS3 and either NABP1 or NABP2 were initially characterized in DNA damage responses, but their biochemical function remained unknown. Using affinity purifications and HIV Integration targeting-sequencing (HIT-Seq), we find that these complexes are part of the Integrator complex, which binds RNA Polymerase II and regulates specific target genes. Integrator cleaves snRNAs as part of their processing to their mature form in a mechanism that is intimately coupled with transcription termination. However, HIT-Seq reveals that Integrator also binds to the 3' end of replication-dependent histones and promoter proximal regions of genes with polyadenylated transcripts. Depletion of Integrator subunits results in transcription termination failure, disruption of histone mRNA processing, and polyadenylation of snRNAs and histone mRNAs. Furthermore, promoter proximal binding of Integrator negatively regulates expression of genes whose transcripts are normally polyadenylated. Integrator recruitment to all three gene classes is DSIF-dependent, suggesting that Integrator functions as a termination complex at DSIF-dependent RNA Polymerase II pause sites.

Authors Skaar, Jeffrey R.; Ferris, Andrea L.; Wu, Xiaolin; Saraf, Anita; Khanna, Kum Kum; Florens, Laurence; Washburn, Michael P.; Hughes, Stephen H.; Pagano, Michele
Journal CELL RESEARCH
Pages 288-305
Volume 25
Date 1/03/2015
Grant ID
Funding Body
URL http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=10.1038/cr.2015.19