Is Ribosome Synthesis Controlled by Pol I Transcription?

Regulation of growth ultimately depends on the control of synthesis of new ribosomes. Ribosome biogenesis is thus a key element of cell biology, which is tightly regulated in response to environmental conditions. In eukaryotic cells, the supply of ribosomal components involves the activities of the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.) Tex.), 2007-01, Vol.6 (1), p.11-15
Main Authors: Chédin, Stéphane, Laferté, Arnaud, Hoang, Tran, Lafontaine, Denis L.J., Riva, Michel, Carles, Christophe
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Binding
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology
Biology
Bioscience
Calcium
Cancer
Cell
Cycle
Humans
Landes
Life Sciences
Organogenesis
Proteins
Ribosomes
Ribosomes - enzymology
Ribosomes - genetics
RNA Polymerase I
RNA Polymerase I - biosynthesis
RNA Polymerase I - genetics
RNA Polymerase I - physiology
Transcription, Genetic
Transcription, Genetic - physiology
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Summary:Regulation of growth ultimately depends on the control of synthesis of new ribosomes. Ribosome biogenesis is thus a key element of cell biology, which is tightly regulated in response to environmental conditions. In eukaryotic cells, the supply of ribosomal components involves the activities of the three forms of nuclear RNA polymerase (Pol I, Pol II and Pol III). Recently, we demonstrated that upon rapamycin treatment, a partial derepression of Pol I transcription led to a concomitant derepression of Pol II transcription restricted to a small subset of class II genes encompassing the genes encoding all ribosomal proteins, and 19 additional genes 1 . The products of 14 of these 19 genes are principally involved in rDNA structure, ribosome biogenesis or translation, whereas the 5 remaining genes code for hypothetical proteins. We demonstrate that the proteins encoded by these 5 genes are required for optimal pre-rRNA processing. In addition, we show that cells in which regulation of Pol I transcription was specifically impaired are either resistant or hypersensitive to different stresses compared to wild-type cells. These results highlight the critical role of the regulation of Pol I activity for the physiology of the cells.
ISSN:1538-4101
1551-4005
DOI:10.4161/cc.6.1.3649