Promoter Structure of the RNA Polymerase II Large Subunit Gene in Caenorhabditis elegans and C. briggsae

Authors

  • D. McK. Bird
  • I. Kaloshian
  • S. Molinari

Abstract

The 5'-end of the Caenorhabditis elegans ama-1 gene transcript, which encodes the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, was cloned. Sequencing revealed that the message is trans-spliced. To characterize the Ce-ama-1 promoter, DNA sequence spanning 3 kb upstream from the initiation codon was determined. Typical elements, such as TATA and Spl sites, were absent. The homologue of ama-1 in C. briggsae, Cb-ama-1, was isolated and its 5' flanking sequence compared with that of Ce-ama-1, revealing only limited similarity, although both sequences included a potential initiator-class transcriptional regulator and phased repeats of an AT[sub3]C motif. The latter elements are postulated to facilitate DNA bending and may play a role in transcription regulation. Key words: area-l, Caenorhabditis briggsae, Caenorhabditis elegans, DNA sequencing, molecular nematology, promoter elements, RACE PCR, TATA-box, trans-splicing.

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Published

1997-06-15

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Section

Articles