The ts13 mutation in the TAF sub(II)250 subunit (CCG1) of TFIID directly affects transcription of D-type cyclin genes in cells arrested in G sub(1) at the nonpermissive temperature

• Published in: Molecular and cellular biology Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 3284 - 3294
• Main Authors: Suzuki-Yagawa, Y, Guermah, M, Roeder, R G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.1997
• ISSN: 0270-7306

The general transcription initiation factor TFIID contains the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and TBP-associated factors (TAFs) implicated in the function of gene-specific activators. Previous studies have indicated that a hamster cell line (ts13) with a point mutation in the TAF sub(II)250/CCG1 (TAF sub(II)250) gene shows temperature-sensitive expression of a subset of genes and arrests in late G sub(1) at 39.5 degree C. Here, we report the identification of cell cycle-specific (G sub(1)-specific) genes that appear to be regulated directly through TAF sub(II)250 both in vivo and in vitro. Transcription rates of several cell cycle-regulatory genes were determined by run-on assays in nuclei from ts13 cells grown at permissive (33 degree C) and nonpermissive (39.5 degree C) temperatures. Temperature-dependent differences in transcription rates were observed for cyclin A, D1, and D3 genes. In transient-transfection assays, the human cyclin D1 promoter fused to a luciferase reporter showed a temperature-dependent reduction in activity in ts13 cells but not in parental BHK cells. In in vitro assays, upstream sequence-dependent transcription from the human cyclin D1 promoter was significantly reduced in ts13 nuclear extracts preincubated at 30 degree C but not in similarly treated BHK nuclear extracts, and transcription in the ts13 extract was restored by addition of an affinity-purified human TFIID. Preincubation of the ts13 nuclear extracts did not affect the function of several GAL4-activation domain fusion proteins (GAL4-VP16, GAL4-p65, and GAL4-p53) on either the adenovirus major late or cyclin D1 core promoter bearing GAL4 sites, further indicating that the effect of the TAF sub(II)250 mutation is both core promoter and activator specific.