Objective
During gene transcription, RNA is synthesized from a DNA template by DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (Pols). Eukaryotic cells contain three nuclear RNA polymerases, responsible for the synthesis of ribosomal RNA (Pol I), pre-messenger RNA (Pol II) and small RNAs including transfer RNAs (Pol III). The three RNA polymerases differ in subunits composition.
Whereas Pol II has 12 subunits, Pol III consists of 17 subunits ranging from 10 to 160 kDa. With a total molecular weight of nearly 700 kDa, Pol III is the largest and the most complex nuclear RNA polymerase. Of the 17 Pol III subunits, ten are unique to Pol III, five are common to all three eukaryotic RNA polymerases, and two are shared by Pol I and III.
Whereas the crystal structure of Pol II is known, and a n electron microscopic structure of Pol I is available, there is no structural data on Pol III, despite its important roles in regulating cell growth and differentiation.
Here we propose to study the three-dimensional structure of the Pol III enzyme by X-r ay crystallography, to obtain novel insights into the mechanisms of transcription, the specific features of Pol III structure and function compared to the Pol II system, and into the evolution of the transcription machineries.
Pol III will be purified from yeast strains, and crystals of the entire complex will be sought with the use of a nanoliter robot. Complexes of Pol III with initiation factors and nucleic acids will be prepared for future analysis by cryo-electron microscopy. The studies will benefit from the expertise on Pol II structure determination in the institute.
A structural description of Pol III will be of central importance to the large community concerned with gene expression and its regulation, and will contribute to the further development of structural biology techniques. The longer-term goal of this project is to unravel the determinants for promoter specificity of the three nuclear polymerases.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules nucleic acids
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology mineralogy crystallography
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology structural biology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-5
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Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
MUENCHEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.