Achievements in improving the understanding of the complex gene expression process came from Korea.
The Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI, President Shin Hyung-Sik) said that Seong-Hoon Jeon’s research equipment operation department’s electron microscope and spectroscopy analysis team’s Ph. It was revealed on the 21st.
Transcription refers to the process of making’mRNA’ (messenger RNA that transmits information) using DNA genetic information. The’RNA polymerase’ that synthesizes mRNA performs the transcription process by interacting with transcription factors.
The research team analyzed the transcription process of archaebacteria (a type of single-celled microorganism) to understand the mechanism of action of the transcription factor’TFEα’.
Using the cryo-EM (Cryo-EM) system, KBSI’s leading research equipment, the transfer complex biological sample was rapidly frozen, and the three-dimensional structure was analyzed. As a result, it was confirmed that TFEα directly binds to the RNA polymerase’forceps domain (region)’ and’stem domain’.
In addition, it was confirmed that the structure of the enzyme was changed to an’open’ state, allowing RNA polymerase to bind to DNA. It was also revealed that the domain changes to a’closed’ state after binding, allowing the transcription process to proceed stably.
The researchers then found that certain amino acids in TFEα unwind the DNA double helix and induce transcription to begin.
In this study, Seong-Hoon Jeon (co-first author and co-corresponding author), KBSI Senior Researcher, Hyun-Kyung Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Ph.D. (Co-corresponding author) and others participated.
Dr. Seong-Hoon Jeon said, “Many diseases occur due to abnormal gene expression, and most of the gene expression is regulated early in the transcription process.” “Understanding the molecular level of RNA polymerase and transcription process is important It will be the basis.”
Daejeon = Reporter Kim Young-jun [email protected]
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