dELL is an essential RNA polymerase II elongation factor with a general role in development

Joel C. Eissenberg, Jiyan Ma, Mark A. Gerber, Alan Christensen, James A. Kennison, Ali Shilatifard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

61 Scopus citations

Abstract

Several eukaryotic proteins increase RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription rates in vitro. The relative contributions of these factors to gene expression in vivo is unknown. The ELL family of proteins promote Pol II elongation in vitro, and the Drosophila ELL homolog (dELL) is associated with Pol II at sites of transcription in vivo. The purpose of this study was to test whether an ELL family protein is required for gene expression in vivo. We show that dELL is encoded by the Suppressor of Triplo-lethal locus [Su(Tpl)]. We have characterized seven distinct mutant alleles of Su(Tpl) and show that a dELL transgene rescues recessive lethality of Su(Tpl). Su(Tpl) mutations cause abnormal embryonic segmentation and dominantly modify expression of diverse genes during development. These data show that an ELL family elongation factor is essential, acts broadly in development, and is not functionally redundant to other elongation factors in vivo.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)9894-9899
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume99
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 23 2002
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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