Need for DNA topoisomerase activity as a swivel for DNA replication for transcription of ribosomal RNA

Yeast strains with mutations in the genes for DNA topoisomerases I and II have been identified previously in both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The topoisomerase II mutants (top2) are conditional-lethal temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants. They are defective in the termination of DNA replication and the segregation of daughter chromosomes, but otherwise appear to replicate and transcribe DNA normally. Topoisomerase I mutants (top1), including strains with null mutations are viable and exhibit no obvious growth defects, demonstrating that DNA topoisomerase I is not essential for viability in yeast. In contrast to the single mutants, top1 top2 ts double mutants from both Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae grow poorly at the permissive temperature and stop growth rapidly at the non-permissive temperature. Here we report that DNA and ribosomal RNA synthesis are drastically inhibited in an S. cerevisiae top1 top2 ts double mutant at the restrictive temperature, but that the rate of poly(A)+ RNA synthesis is reduced only about threefold and transfer DNA synthesis remains relatively normal. The results suggest that DNA replication and at least ribosomal RNA synthesis require an active topoisomerase, presumably to act as a swivel to relieve torsional stress, and that either topoisomerase can perform the required function (except in termination of DNA replication where topoisomerase II is required).     

酵母snoRNA基因簇启动子的比较分析

报道对酿酒酵母ｓｎｏＲＮＡ基因簇启动子序列的研究结果．通过计算机分析,发现酿酒酵母中Ｚ２Ｚ８和ＳｎＲ１９０Ｕ１４ｓｎｏＲＮＡ基因簇有相似的启动子结构．这两个ｓｎｏＲＮＡ基因簇都是由一个上游的启动子负责整个基因簇的转录,产生多个顺反子ｓｎｏＲＮＡ的前体,然后再加工成熟为各个独立的ｓｎｏＲＮＡ．在启动子保守序列ＴＡＴＡｂｏｘ的上游还发现２个ＲＡＰ１序列,表明ｓｎｏＲＮＡ基因簇的表达可以通过ＲＡＰ１元素与核糖体蛋白基因的表达协同调控．这是在ｓｎｏＲＮＡ基因的启动子中首次发现ＲＡＰ１调控元素．对ｓｎｏＲＮＡ基因簇的进化特点也进行了讨论．