Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-12-2004

Abstract

A growing body of evidence suggests that genes transcribed by RNA polymerase III exhibit multiple functions within a chromosome. While the predominant function of these genes is the synthesis of RNA molecules, certain RNA polymerase III genes also function as genomic landmarks. Transfer RNA genes are known to exhibit extra-transcriptional activities such as directing Ty element integration, pausing of replication forks, overriding nucleosome positioning sequences, repressing neighboring genes (tRNA position effect), and acting as a barrier to the spread of repressive chromatin. This study was designed to identify other tRNA loci that may act as barriers to chromatin-mediated repression, and focused on TRT2, a tRNAThr adjacent to the STE6 α2 operator. We show that TRT2 acts as a barrier to repression, protecting the upstream CBT1 gene from the influence of the STE6 α2 operator in MATα cells. Interestingly, deletion of TRT2 results in an increase in CBT1 mRNA levels in MATa cells, indicating a potential tRNA position effect. The transcription of TRT2 itself is unaffected by the presence of the α2 operator, suggesting a hierarchy that favors assembly of the RNA polymerase III complex versus assembly of adjacent α2 operator-mediated repressed chromatin structures. This proposed hierarchy could explain how tRNA genes function as barriers to the propagation of repressive chromatin. © Oxford University Press 2004; all rights reserved.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Nucleic Acids Research

First Page

5206

Last Page

5213

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