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Molecular and Cellular Biology, April 2007, p. 2886-2896, Vol. 27, No. 8
0270-7306/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/MCB.00054-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Regulation of rRNA Synthesis by TATA-Binding Protein-Associated Factor Mot1

Arindam Dasgupta,^1, Rebekka O. Sprouse,^1, Sarah French,^2, Pavel Aprikian,³ Robert Hontz,¹ Sarah A. Juedes,¹ Jeffrey S. Smith,¹ Ann L. Beyer,² and David T. Auble^1*

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics,¹ Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia Health System, 1300 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-0733,² Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, Washington 98195³

Received 10 January 2007/ Accepted 1 February 2007

Mot1 is an essential, conserved, TATA-binding protein (TBP)-associated factor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with well-established roles in the global control of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription. Previous results have suggested that Mot1 functions exclusively in Pol II transcription, but here we report a novel role for Mot1 in regulating transcription by RNA polymerase I (Pol I). In vivo, Mot1 is associated with the ribosomal DNA, and loss of Mot1 results in decreased rRNA synthesis. Consistent with a direct role for Mot1 in Pol I transcription, Mot1 also associates with the Pol I promoter in vitro in a reaction that depends on components of the Pol I general transcription machinery. Remarkably, in addition to Mot1's role in initiation, rRNA processing is delayed in mot1 cells. Taken together, these results support a model in which Mot1 affects the rate and efficiency of rRNA synthesis by both direct and indirect mechanisms, with resulting effects on transcription activation and the coupling of rRNA synthesis to processing.

Published ahead of print on 12 February 2007.

These authors contributed equally.