This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Braun, M. A.
Right arrow Articles by Arndt, K. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Braun, M. A.
Right arrow Articles by Arndt, K. M.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Molecular and Cellular Biology, April 2007, p. 2800-2811, Vol. 27, No. 8
0270-7306/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/MCB.01947-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Identification of Rkr1, a Nuclear RING Domain Protein with Functional Connections to Chromatin Modification in Saccharomyces cerevisiae{triangledown}

Mary A. Braun, Patrick J. Costa,{dagger} Elia M. Crisucci, and Karen M. Arndt*

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260

Received 16 October 2006/ Returned for modification 23 November 2006/ Accepted 22 January 2007

Proper transcription by RNA polymerase II is dependent on the modification state of the chromatin template. The Paf1 complex is associated with RNA polymerase II during transcription elongation and is required for several histone modifications that mark active genes. To uncover additional factors that regulate chromatin or transcription, we performed a genetic screen for mutations that cause lethality in the absence of the Paf1 complex component Rtf1. Our results have led to the discovery of a previously unstudied gene, RKR1. Strains lacking RKR1 exhibit phenotypes associated with defects in transcription and chromatin function. These phenotypes include inositol auxotrophy, impaired telomeric silencing, and synthetic lethality with mutations in SPT10, a gene that encodes a putative histone acetyltransferase. In addition, deletion of RKR1 causes severe genetic interactions with mutations that prevent histone H2B lysine 123 ubiquitylation or histone H3 lysine 4 methylation. RKR1 encodes a conserved nuclear protein with a functionally important RING domain at its carboxy terminus. In vitro experiments indicate that Rkr1 possesses ubiquitin-protein ligase activity. Taken together, our results identify a new participant in a protein ubiquitylation pathway within the nucleus that acts to modulate chromatin function and transcription.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 269 Crawford Hall, 4249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. Phone: (412) 624-6963. Fax: (412) 624-4759. E-mail: arndt{at}pitt.edu

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 5 February 2007.

{dagger} Present address: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14620.

Molecular and Cellular Biology, April 2007, p. 2800-2811, Vol. 27, No. 8
0270-7306/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/MCB.01947-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Wilson, M. A., Meaux, S., van Hoof, A. (2007). A Genomic Screen in Yeast Reveals Novel Aspects of Nonstop mRNA Metabolism. Genetics 177: 773-784 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»