THE STRUCTURE OF RNA POLYMERASE II AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS

该子项目是利用NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为中心，不一定是研究者所在机构。RNA聚合酶II（pol II）是基因表达的中心酶，在真核生物中合成所有mRNA。pol II转录的复杂调节是细胞生长和分化的基础。Pol II既是一台能够进行DNA解旋、RNA聚合和校对的机器，也是一个组装更大的起始和延伸复合物的平台。最近在2.8分辨率下测定了10个亚基，0.5 mDal，酿酒酵母（pol II）的结构，并在3.3分辨率下测定了转录pol II复合物的结构，为许多研究方向开辟了道路。pol II与相互作用分子的共晶结构可以被解决，定点突变的全部力量可以被用来理解转录机制，等等。pol II转录机制的结构确定对于理解转录的机制和调控是必不可少的。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. RNA polymerase II (pol II), the central enzyme of gene expression, synthesizes all mRNA in eukaryotes. The intricate regulation of pol II transcription underlies cell growth and differentiation. Pol II is both a machine, capable of DNA unwinding, RNA polymerization, and proofreading, and also a platform for the assembly of even larger initiation and elongation complexes. The recent structure determination of ten-subunit, 0.5 mDal, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (pol II) at 2.8 ¿¿resolution, and of a transcribing pol II complex at 3.3 ¿¿resolution, opens the way to many lines of investigation. Structures of cocrystals of pol II with interacting molecules can be solved, the full power of site-directed mutagenesis can be brought to bear on understanding the transcription mechanism, and so forth. Structure determination of the pol II transcription machinery is essential for understanding the mechanism and regulation of transcription.