Transcriptional termination factors for RNA polymerase II in yeast

The molecular connections between mRNA3' end processing and transcriptional termination have been investigated in S. pombe using a genetic screen. By this approach, we have identified a RNAP II termination domain in the well- defined cleavage polyadenylation factor called CstF-64 in metazoans and Rna 15p in S. cerevisiae. Furthermore, this C-terminal domain interacts with Re s2, previously identified as a component of the G1/S transition-specific tr anscription factor MBF. Deletion of res2 in both fission and budding yeast results in a defect in 3 ' end formation. This raises the possibility that RNAP II transcriptional termination may in some situations be integrated wi th cell cycle events.