---
_id: '600'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: Transcription initiation at the ribosomal RNA promoter requires RNA polymerase
    (Pol) I and the initiation factors Rrn3 and core factor (CF). Here, we combine
    X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to obtain a molecular
    model for basal Pol I initiation. The three-subunit CF binds upstream promoter
    DNA, docks to the Pol I-Rrn3 complex, and loads DNA into the expanded active center
    cleft of the polymerase. DNA unwinding between the Pol I protrusion and clamp
    domains enables cleft contraction, resulting in an active Pol I conformation and
    RNA synthesis. Comparison with the Pol II system suggests that promoter specificity
    relies on a distinct “bendability” and “meltability” of the promoter sequence
    that enables contacts between initiation factors, DNA, and polymerase.
article_processing_charge: No
author:
- first_name: Christoph
  full_name: Engel, Christoph
  last_name: Engel
- first_name: Tobias
  full_name: Gubbey, Tobias
  last_name: Gubbey
- first_name: Simon
  full_name: Neyer, Simon
  last_name: Neyer
- first_name: Sarah
  full_name: Sainsbury, Sarah
  last_name: Sainsbury
- first_name: Christiane
  full_name: Oberthuer, Christiane
  last_name: Oberthuer
- first_name: Carlo
  full_name: Baejen, Carlo
  last_name: Baejen
- first_name: Carrie A
  full_name: Bernecky, Carrie A
  id: 2CB9DFE2-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
  last_name: Bernecky
  orcid: 0000-0003-0893-7036
- first_name: Patrick
  full_name: Cramer, Patrick
  last_name: Cramer
citation:
  ama: Engel C, Gubbey T, Neyer S, et al. Structural basis of RNA polymerase I transcription
    initiation. <i>Cell</i>. 2017;169(1):120-131.e22. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.003">10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.003</a>
  apa: Engel, C., Gubbey, T., Neyer, S., Sainsbury, S., Oberthuer, C., Baejen, C.,
    … Cramer, P. (2017). Structural basis of RNA polymerase I transcription initiation.
    <i>Cell</i>. Cell Press. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.003">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.003</a>
  chicago: Engel, Christoph, Tobias Gubbey, Simon Neyer, Sarah Sainsbury, Christiane
    Oberthuer, Carlo Baejen, Carrie Bernecky, and Patrick Cramer. “Structural Basis
    of RNA Polymerase I Transcription Initiation.” <i>Cell</i>. Cell Press, 2017.
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.003">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.003</a>.
  ieee: C. Engel <i>et al.</i>, “Structural basis of RNA polymerase I transcription
    initiation,” <i>Cell</i>, vol. 169, no. 1. Cell Press, p. 120–131.e22, 2017.
  ista: Engel C, Gubbey T, Neyer S, Sainsbury S, Oberthuer C, Baejen C, Bernecky C,
    Cramer P. 2017. Structural basis of RNA polymerase I transcription initiation.
    Cell. 169(1), 120–131.e22.
  mla: Engel, Christoph, et al. “Structural Basis of RNA Polymerase I Transcription
    Initiation.” <i>Cell</i>, vol. 169, no. 1, Cell Press, 2017, p. 120–131.e22, doi:<a
    href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.003">10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.003</a>.
  short: C. Engel, T. Gubbey, S. Neyer, S. Sainsbury, C. Oberthuer, C. Baejen, C.
    Bernecky, P. Cramer, Cell 169 (2017) 120–131.e22.
date_created: 2018-12-11T11:47:25Z
date_published: 2017-03-23T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2025-09-11T07:38:07Z
day: '23'
doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.003
extern: '1'
external_id:
  isi:
  - '000397090000013'
intvolume: '       169'
isi: 1
issue: '1'
language:
- iso: eng
month: '03'
oa_version: None
page: 120 - 131.e22
publication: Cell
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - '00928674'
publication_status: published
publisher: Cell Press
publist_id: '7204'
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: Structural basis of RNA polymerase I transcription initiation
type: journal_article
user_id: 317138e5-6ab7-11ef-aa6d-ffef3953e345
volume: 169
year: '2017'
...