Abstract
Plants, like other eukaryotes, have three distinct classes of nuclear DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (9,10,21,26). In addition, they possess RNA polymerases unique to the chloroplast and mitochondrial organelles. Within the nucleus, genomic DNA is transcribed by RNA polymerases I (or A), II (or B), and III (or C), and each class of enzyme carries out a unique transcriptional role. RNA polymerase I is localized in the nucleolus and transcribes ribosomal DNA (rDNA) cistrons into precursor ribosomal RNA (rRNA) containing species of 25S, 18S, and 5.8S rRNAs. RNA polymerase II is localized in the nucleoplasm and produces precursors to mRNAs and some small nuclear RNAs. RNA polymerase III is also localized in the nucleoplasm and transcribes 5S rRNA, tRNA, and some small nuclear RNA genes. While RNA polymerases II and III are localized in the nucleoplasm in situ, both enzymes are subject to extensive leaching from nuclei during cell disruption and are largely recovered in the cytoplasm fraction of cell extracts (9,10).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Allison, L.A., M. Moyle, M. Shales, and C.J. Ingles (1985) Extensive homology among the largest subunits of eukaryotic and prokaryotic RNA polymerases. Cell 42: 599–610.
Biggs, J., L.L. Searles, and A.L. Greenleaf (1985) Structure of the eukaryotic transcription apparatus: Features of the gene for the largest subunit of Drosophila RNA polymerase II. Cell 42: 611–621.
Ciliberto, G., L. Castagnoli, and R. Cortese (1983) Transcription by RNA polymerase III. Curr. Top. Develop. Biol. 18: 59–88.
Corden, J.L., D.L. Cadena, J.M. Ahearn, and M.E. Dahmus (1985) A unique structure at the carboxyl terminus of the largest subunit of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 82: 79347938.
Dahmus, M.E., and C. Kedinger (1983) Transcription of adenovirus-2 major late promoter inhibited by monoclonal antibody directed against RNA polymerases II and III,. J. Biol. Chem. 258: 2303–2307.
Faust, D.M., R. Renkawitz-Pohl, D. Falkenburg, A. Gasch, S. Bialojan, R. Young, and E.K.F. Bautz (1986) Cloning and identification of the gene coding for the 140-kd subunit of Drosophila RNA polymerase II. EMBO J. 5: 741–746.
Grummt, I. (1982) Nucleotide sequence requirements for specific initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase I. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 79: 6908–6911.
Guilfoyle, T.J. (1980) Auxin-induced deoxyribonucleic acid dependent ribonucleic acid polymerase activities in mature soybean hypocotyl. Biochemistry 19: 6112–6118.
Guilfoyle, T.J. (1981) DNA and RNA polymerases. In The Biochemistry of Plants, Vol. 6, A. Marcus, ed. Academic Press, Inc., New York, pp. 207–247.
Guilfoyle, T.J. (1983) DNA-dependent RNA polymerases of plants and lower eukaryotes. In Enzymes of Nucleic Acid Synthesis and Modification, Vol. II, S.T. Jacob, ed. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida, pp. 1–42.
Guilfoyle, T.J. (1986) Auxin-regulated gene expression in higher plants. CRC Grit. Rev. Plant Sci. (in press).
Guilfoyle, T.J., G. Hagen, and S. Malcolm (1984) Immunological studies on plant DNA-dependent RNA polymerases with antibodies raised against individual subunits. J. Biol. Chem. 259: 640–648.
Guilfoyle, T.J., G. Hagen, and S. Malcolm (1984) Size heterogeneity of the largest subunit of nuclear RNA polymerase II: An immunological analysis. J. Biol. Chem. 259: 649–653.
Guilfoyle, T.J., J. Suzich, and M. Lindberg (1986) Synthesis of 5S rRNA and putative precursor tRNAs in nuclei isolated from wheat embryos. Plant Mol. Biol. 7: 95–104.
Ingles, C.J., M. Moyle, L.A. Allison, and J.K.-C. Wong (1986) Eukaryotic-and prokaryotic-specific domains in the largest subunits of RNA polymerases. In RNA Polymerase and the Regulation of Transcription, University of Wisconsin 16th Steenbock Symposium Abstracts, P-I-62.
Ingles, C.J., J. Biggs, J.K.-C. Wong, J.R. Weeks, and A.L. Greenleaf (1983) Identification of a structural gene for an RNA polymerase II polypeptide in Drosophila melanogaster and mammalian species. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 80: 3396–3400.
Ingles, C.J., H.J. Himmelfarb, M. Shales, A.L. Greenleaf, and J.D. Friesen (1985) Identification, molecular cloning, and mutagenesis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA polymerase genes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 81: 2157–2161.
Jendrisak, J.J., and R.R. Burgess (1977) Studies on the subunit structure of wheat germ ribonucleic acid polymerase II. Biochemistry 16: 1959–1964.
Jendrisak, J.J., and T.J. Guilfoyle (1978) Eukaryotic RNA polymerases: Comparative subunit structures, immunological properties, and a-amanitin sensitivities of the class II enzymes from higher plants. Biochemistry 17: 1322–1327.
Jokerst, R.S., W.A. Zehring, J.R. Weeks, and A.L. Greenleaf (1986) Genetic and molecular characterization of RpII215, the gene encoding the large subunit of RNA polymerase II in D. melanogaster. In RNA Polymerase and the Regulation of Transcription, University of Wisconsin 16th Steenbock Symposium Abstracts, P-II-72.
Lewis, M.K., and R.R. Burgess (1982) Eukaryotic RNA polymerases. In The Enzymes, Vol. 15B, P.D. Boyer, ed. Academic Press, Inc., New York, pp. 109–153.
Manley, J.L. (1983) Analysis of the expression of genes encoding animal mRNA by in vitro techniques. Prog. Nucl. Acid Res. Mol. Biol. 30: 195–244.
Miassod, R., C. Got, and J.-P. Torreton (1984) Immunological estimation of changes in the absolute amounts of nuclear RNA polymerases in strictly auxin-requiring, cultured soybean cells upon addition of 2,4dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Planta 162: 434–440.
Paule, M.R. (1981) Comparative subunit composition of eukaryotic nuclear RNA polymerases. Trends Biochem. Sci. 6: 128–131.
Riva, M., S. Memet, J.-Y. Micouin, J. Huet, I. Treich, J. Dassa, R. Young, J.-M. Buhler, A. Sentenac, and P. Fromageot (1986) Isolation of structural genes for yeast RNA polymerases by immunological screening. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 83: 1554–1558.
Roeder, R.G. (1975) Eukaryotic nuclear RNA polymerases. In RNA Polymerase, R. Losick and M. Chamberlin, eds. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, pp. 285–329.
Sharp, S.J., J. Schaack, L. Cooley, D.J. Burke, and D. Soll (1985) Structure and transcription of eukaryotic tRNA genes. CRC Crit. Rev. Biochem. 19: 107–204.
Young, R.A., and R.W. Davis (1983) Yeast RNA polymerase II genes: Isolation with antibody probes. Science 222: 778–782.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1987 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Guilfoyle, T.J., Dietrich, M.A. (1987). Plant RNA Polymerases: Structures, Regulation, and Genes. In: Bruening, G., Harada, J., Kosuge, T., Hollaender, A., Kuny, G., Wilson, C.M. (eds) Tailoring Genes for Crop Improvement. Basic Life Sciences, vol 41. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5329-4_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5329-4_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5331-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5329-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive