Single-molecule studies of different steps in human RNA polymerase II and bacterial RNA polymerase transcription

Transcription of genomic DNA of all organisms is carried out by members of the multi-subunit RNA polymerase family. Regulation of RNA polymerase localization and activity underlies cellular homeostasis, division, and response to environmental cues. The catalytic mechanism, overall architecture, and many sequence and structural features of bacterial RNA polymerase are conserved in its Archaeal and Eukaryotic counterparts. The human RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is responsible for transcription of all protein-coding and many non-coding genes. The majority of current knowledge on RNA polymerases and their mechanism at different steps in transcription derives from extensive work done using classical biochemical, genetic and structural biology methods. However, the use of single-molecule approaches addressed crucial questions on the function and mechanism of RNA polymerases during transcription, which were not possible to answer with ensemble-based approaches due to averaging effects. A useful fluorescence-based single-molecule technique to measure distances on the molecular scale and monitor dynamics is F�rster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Here, I report on the development of diffusion-based single-molecule FRET (smFRET) methods to investigate different steps in transcription by the in vitro reconstituted human Pol II system. Using an assay that monitors the FRET changes between fluorescent dyes in the unwound region of promoter DNA (transcription bubble), I demonstrated the effect of certain components of the reconstituted system on the relative size of the transcription bubble. I also detail the optimizations done to enhance the affinity of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) FRET probes to complementary target sequences. These ssDNA FRET probes were used to investigate the effect of certain components of the reconstituted system on Pol II activity by measuring the relative levels of RNA product. In addition to studies on the Pol II system, I report on the effect of the 5’-group of nascent RNA on the stability of the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNAP) transcription bubble. I show how the presence of a 5’-monophosphate appears to destabilize the open bubble while a 5’-hydroxyl has no effect. Finally, I describe the work done on a project I took part in that identified a previously uncharacterized RNAP paused complex in initiation. We demonstrate that RNAP complexes undergoing initial transcription can enter the inactive paused state by backtracking. I also demonstrate how the presence of a 5’-triphosphate rapidly enhances entrance of RNAP complexes undergoing initial transcription into an inactive paused complex

Single-molecule studies of different steps in human RNA polymerase II and bacterial RNA polymerase transcription

Transcription of genomic DNA of all organisms is carried out by members of the multi-subunit RNA polymerase family. Regulation of RNA polymerase localization and activity underlies cellular homeostasis, division, and response to environmental cues. The catalytic mechanism, overall architecture, and many sequence and structural features of bacterial RNA polymerase are conserved in its Archaeal and Eukaryotic counterparts. The human RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is responsible for transcription of all protein-coding and many non-coding genes. The majority of current knowledge on RNA polymerases and their mechanism at different steps in transcription derives from extensive work done using classical biochemical, genetic and structural biology methods. However, the use of single-molecule approaches addressed crucial questions on the function and mechanism of RNA polymerases during transcription, which were not possible to answer with ensemble-based approaches due to averaging effects. A useful fluorescence-based single-molecule technique to measure distances on the molecular scale and monitor dynamics is F�rster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Here, I report on the development of diffusion-based single-molecule FRET (smFRET) methods to investigate different steps in transcription by the in vitro reconstituted human Pol II system. Using an assay that monitors the FRET changes between fluorescent dyes in the unwound region of promoter DNA (transcription bubble), I demonstrated the effect of certain components of the reconstituted system on the relative size of the transcription bubble. I also detail the optimizations done to enhance the affinity of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) FRET probes to complementary target sequences. These ssDNA FRET probes were used to investigate the effect of certain components of the reconstituted system on Pol II activity by measuring the relative levels of RNA product. In addition to studies on the Pol II system, I report on the effect of the 5’-group of nascent RNA on the stability of the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNAP) transcription bubble. I show how the presence of a 5’-monophosphate appears to destabilize the open bubble while a 5’-hydroxyl has no effect. Finally, I describe the work done on a project I took part in that identified a previously uncharacterized RNAP paused complex in initiation. We demonstrate that RNAP complexes undergoing initial transcription can enter the inactive paused state by backtracking. I also demonstrate how the presence of a 5’-triphosphate rapidly enhances entrance of RNAP complexes undergoing initial transcription into an inactive paused complex

Studying transcription initiation by RNA polymerase with diffusion‐based single‐molecule fluorescence

Over the past decade, fluorescence-based single-molecule studies significantly contributed to characterizing the mechanism of RNA polymerase at different steps in transcription, especially in transcription initiation. Transcription by bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a multistep process that uses genomic DNA to synthesize complementary RNA molecules. Transcription initiation is a highly regulated step in E. coli, but it has been challenging to study its mechanism because of its stochasticity and complexity. In this review, we describe how single-molecule approaches have contributed to our understanding of transcription and have uncovered mechanistic details that were not observed in conventional assays because of ensemble averaging

Studying transcription initiation by RNA polymerase with diffusion-based single-molecule fluorescence.

Over the past decade, fluorescence-based single-molecule studies significantly contributed to characterizing the mechanism of RNA polymerase at different steps in transcription, especially in transcription initiation. Transcription by bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a multistep process that uses genomic DNA to synthesize complementary RNA molecules. Transcription initiation is a highly regulated step in E. coli, but it has been challenging to study its mechanism because of its stochasticity and complexity. In this review, we describe how single-molecule approaches have contributed to our understanding of transcription and have uncovered mechanistic details that were not observed in conventional assays because of ensemble averaging

Toward dynamic structural biology: Two decades of single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer.

Classical structural biology can only provide static snapshots of biomacromolecules. Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) paved the way for studying dynamics in macromolecular structures under biologically relevant conditions. Since its first implementation in 1996, smFRET experiments have confirmed previously hypothesized mechanisms and provided new insights into many fundamental biological processes, such as DNA maintenance and repair, transcription, translation, and membrane transport. We review 22 years of contributions of smFRET to our understanding of basic mechanisms in biochemistry, molecular biology, and structural biology. Additionally, building on current state-of-the-art implementations of smFRET, we highlight possible future directions for smFRET in applications such as biosensing, high-throughput screening, and molecular diagnostics

Toward dynamic structural biology:Two decades of single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer

Classical structural biology can only provide static snapshots of biomacromolecules. Single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) paved the way for studying dynamics in macromolecular structures under biologically relevant conditions. Since its first implementation in 1996, smFRET experiments have confirmed previously hypothesized mechanisms and provided new insights into many fundamental biological processes, such as DNA maintenance and repair, transcription, translation, and membrane transport. We review 22 years of contributions of smFRET to our understanding of basic mechanisms in biochemistry, molecular biology, and structural biology. Additionally, building on current state-of-the-art implementations of smFRET, we highlight possible future directions for smFRET in applications such as biosensing, high-throughput screening, and molecular diagnostics

The effect of macromolecular crowding on single-round transcription by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase.

Previous works have reported significant effects of macromolecular crowding on the structure and behavior of biomolecules. The crowded intracellular environment, in contrast to in vitro buffer solutions, likely imparts similar effects on biomolecules. The enzyme serving as the gatekeeper for the genome, RNA polymerase (RNAP), is among the most regulated enzymes. Although it was previously demonstrated that macromolecular crowding affects association of RNAP to DNA, not much is known about how crowding acts on late initiation and promoter clearance steps, which are considered to be the rate-determining steps for many promoters. Here, we demonstrate that macromolecular crowding enhances the rate of late initiation and promoter clearance using in vitro quenching-based single-molecule kinetics assays. Moreover, the enhancement's dependence on crowder size notably deviates from predictions by the scaled-particle theory, commonly used for description of crowding effects. Our findings shed new light on how enzymatic reactions could be affected by crowded conditions in the cellular milieu

A Novel Initiation Pathway in Escherichia Coli Transcription

Initiation is a highly regulated, rate-limiting step in transcription. We employed a series of approaches to examine the kinetics of RNA polymerase (RNAP) transcription initiation in greater detail. Quenched kinetics assays, in combination with magnetic tweezer experiments and other methods, showed that, contrary to expectations, RNAP exit kinetics from later stages of initiation (e.g. from a 7-base transcript) was markedly slower than from earlier stages. Further examination implicated a previously unidentified intermediate in which RNAP adopted a long-lived backtracked state during initiation. In agreement, the RNAP-GreA endonuclease accelerated transcription kinetics from otherwise delayed initiation states and prevented RNAP backtracking. Our results indicate a previously uncharacterized RNAP initiation state that could be exploited for therapeutic purposes and may reflect a conserved intermediate among paused, initiating eukaryotic enzymes. Significance: Transcription initiation by RNAP is rate limiting owing to many factors, including a newly discovered slow initiation pathway characterized by RNA backtracking and pausing. This backtracked and paused state occurs when all NTPs are present in equal amounts, but becomes more prevalent with NTP shortage, which mimics cellular stress conditions. Pausing and backtracking in initiation may play an important role in transcriptional regulation, and similar backtracked states may contribute to pausing among eukaryotic RNA polymerase II enzymes