PROSITE logo
Black ribbon
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Amos Bairoch (1957–2025), the creator of PROSITE. We wish to dedicate our latest paper, published shortly before his death, to him. He will always be a source of inspiration to us.
Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends, and to all those who had the privilege of working with him. Rest in peace, Amos. Your work will live on long after you are gone.
Amos Bairoch

PROSITE documentation PDOC00790
RNA polymerases M / 15 Kd subunits signature


View entry in original PROSITE document format
View entry in raw text format (no links)
PURL: https://purl.expasy.org/prosite/documentation/PDOC00790

Description

In eukaryotes, there are three different forms of DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (EC 2.7.7.6) transcribing different sets of genes. Each class of RNA polymerase is an assemblage of ten to twelve different polypeptides. In archaebacteria, there is generally a single form of RNA polymerase which also consist of an oligomeric assemblage of 10 to 13 polypeptides.

It has recently been shown [1,2] that small subunits of about 15 Kd, found in polymerase types I and II, are highly conserved. Subunits known to belong to this family are:

  • Yeast RPA12 subunit from RNA polymerases I.
  • Yeast RPB9 subunit from RNA polymerase II.
  • Yeast RPC11 subunit from RNA polymerase III.
  • Mammalian RPB14.5 (gene POLR2I) from RNA polymerase II.
  • Drosophila RpII15 from RNA polymerase II.
  • Archebacterial RNA polymerase subunit M (gene rpoM).

These proteins contain a probable zinc finger in their N-terminal region and a C-terminal zinc ribbon domain (see <PDOC00383>). As a signature pattern for these subunits, we selected the region that contains the zinc finger.

Last update:

February 2024 / Pattern revised.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Technical section

PROSITE method (with tools and information) covered by this documentation:

RNA_POL_M_15KD, PS01030; RNA polymerases M / 15 Kd subunits signature  (PATTERN)


References

1AuthorsAcker J. Wintzerith M. Vigneron M. Kedinger C.
TitleStructure of the gene encoding the 14.5 kDa subunit of human RNA polymerase II.
SourceNucleic Acids Res. 21:5345-5350(1993).
PubMed ID8265347

2AuthorsNogi Y. Yano R. Dodd J. Carles C. Nomura M.
TitleGene RRN4 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes the A12.2 subunit of RNA polymerase I and is essential only at high temperatures.
SourceMol. Cell. Biol. 13:114-122(1993).
PubMed ID8417319



PROSITE is copyrighted by the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics and distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) License, see prosite_license.html.