PHF3 regulates neuronal gene expression through the Pol II CTD reader domain SPOC
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2021 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Nature Communications |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-26360-2 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26360-2 |
| Keywords | Gene expression; Neural stem cells; Transcription; X-ray crystallography |
| Description | The C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a regulatory hub for transcription and RNA processing. Here, we identify PHD-finger protein 3 (PHF3) as a regulator of transcription and mRNA stability that docks onto Pol II CTD through its SPOC domain. We characterize SPOC as a CTD reader domain that preferentially binds two phosphorylated Serine-2 marks in adjacent CTD repeats. PHF3 drives liquid-liquid phase separation of phosphorylated Pol II, colocalizes with Pol II clusters and tracks with Pol II across the length of genes. PHF3 knock-out or SPOC deletion in human cells results in increased Pol II stalling, reduced elongation rate and an increase in mRNA stability, with marked derepression of neuronal genes. Key neuronal genes are aberrantly expressed in Phf3 knock-out mouse embryonic stem cells, resulting in impaired neuronal differentiation. Our data suggest that PHF3 acts as a prominent effector of neuronal gene regulation by bridging transcription with mRNA decay. Here the authors identify PHF3 SPOC domain as a reader of the phosphorylated RNA polymerase II (Pol II) C-terminal domain. They show that PHF3 clusters with Pol II complexes in cells, drives phase separation of Pol II in vitro, and regulates neuronal gene expression and neuronal differentiation. |
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