Promoters and Heterogeneous 5' Termini of the Messenger RNAs of Adenovirus 2

Author

Carl Chester Baker

Date of Award

1981

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Abstract

Adenovirus-2 messenger RNAs are transcribed from nine separate transcription units which function during early, intermediate and late stages of infection. I have sequenced capped 5* termini of messenger RNAs from each of these transcription units, and located the templates for each capped terminus in the sequence of the Ad2 genome. These results define the putative initiation sites and promoters for all major Ad2 transcripts. By comparing the termini and promoter DNA sequences I conclude that seven of nine initiation sites including Ela, Elb, PIX, major late, EIII, EIV and the late form of region Ila mRNA have clearly defined TATA box homologies. With early region Ila and IVa2, this homology is absent. For most messengers, the mRNA terminus is microheterogeneous, and encoded within a 2-7 base cap site region located approximately 30 nucleotides downstream from the TATA box. However, the two transcription units which lack TATA boxes display equivalent microheterogeneity. Purine termini are greatly favored over pyrimidine termini. I propose a model for Ad2 cap site recognition in which RNA polymerase scans short DNA segments for purine starts, and discuss the model in the context of EIV mRNAs of Ad2 and Ad5 which differ in their promoter region DNA sequence.

Comments

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of The Rockefeller University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Recommended Citation

Baker, Carl Chester, "Promoters and Heterogeneous 5' Termini of the Messenger RNAs of Adenovirus 2" (1981). Student Theses and Dissertations. 467.
https://digitalcommons.rockefeller.edu/student_theses_and_dissertations/467