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Originally published as MBC in Press, 10.1091/mbc.E09-09-0790 on November 18, 2009 Originally published as MBC in Press, 10.1091/mbc.E09-09-0790 on November 12, 2009

Vol. 21, Issue 2, 254-265, January 15, 2010

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Centromeric Localization of Dispersed Pol III Genes in Fission Yeast

Osamu Iwasaki*, Atsunari Tanaka*, Hideki Tanizawa*, Shiv I.S. Grewal{dagger}, and Ken-ichi Noma*

*The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104; and {dagger}Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892

Submitted September 16, 2009; Revised October 30, 2009; Accepted November 4, 2009
Monitoring Editor: Kerry S. Bloom

The eukaryotic genome is a complex three-dimensional entity residing in the nucleus. We present evidence that Pol III–transcribed genes such as tRNA and 5S rRNA genes can localize to centromeres and contribute to a global genome organization. Furthermore, we find that ectopic insertion of Pol III genes into a non-Pol III gene locus results in the centromeric localization of the locus. We show that the centromeric localization of Pol III genes is mediated by condensin, which interacts with the Pol III transcription machinery, and that transcription levels of the Pol III genes are negatively correlated with the centromeric localization of Pol III genes. This centromeric localization of Pol III genes initially observed in interphase becomes prominent during mitosis, when chromosomes are condensed. Remarkably, defective mitotic chromosome condensation by a condensin mutation, cut3-477, which reduces the centromeric localization of Pol III genes, is suppressed by a mutation in the sfc3 gene encoding the Pol III transcription factor TFIIIC subunit, sfc3-1. The sfc3-1 mutation promotes the centromeric localization of Pol III genes. Our study suggests there are functional links between the process of the centromeric localization of dispersed Pol III genes, their transcription, and the assembly of condensed mitotic chromosomes.

This was published online ahead of print in MBC in Press (http://www.molbiolcell.org/cgi/doi/10.1091/mbc.E09-09-0790) on November 18, 2009.

Address correspondence to: Ken-ichi Noma (noma{at}wistar.org)

Abbreviations used: COC, chromosome-organizing clamp.






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