Elongation Factor TFIIS Prevents Transcription Stress and R-Loop Accumulation to Maintain Genome Stability

Although correlations between RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription stress, R-loops, and genome instability have been established, the mechanisms underlying these connections remain poorly understood. Here, we used a mutant version of the transcription elongation factor TFIIS (TFIISmut), aiming t...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Zatreanu, Diana, Han, Zhong, Mitter, Richard, Tumini, Emanuela, Williams, Hannah C., Gregersen, Lea Haarup, Dirac-Svejstrup, A. Barbara, Roma, Stefania, Stewart, Aengus, Aguilera López, Andrés, Svejstrup, Jesper
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Recursos:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/90721
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/90721
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2019.07.037
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:53BP1
Backtracking
DNA-RNA hybrids
R-loops
RNA polymerase II
TFIIS
Transcript cleavage
Transcript elongation
Transcription-associated genome instability
Descrição
Resumo:Although correlations between RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription stress, R-loops, and genome instability have been established, the mechanisms underlying these connections remain poorly understood. Here, we used a mutant version of the transcription elongation factor TFIIS (TFIISmut), aiming to specifically induce increased levels of RNAPII pausing, arrest, and/or backtracking in human cells. Indeed, TFIISmut expression results in slower elongation rates, relative depletion of polymerases from the end of genes, and increased levels of stopped RNAPII; it affects mRNA splicing and termination as well. Remarkably, TFIISmut expression also dramatically increases R-loops, which may form at the anterior end of backtracked RNAPII and trigger genome instability, including DNA strand breaks. These results shed light on the relationship between transcription stress and R-loops and suggest that different classes of R-loops may exist, potentially with distinct consequences for genome stability.