Nuclear receptor regulation of RNA polymerase III

RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcribes small RNAs essential for translation including all transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and 5S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). It is a major node for controlling cell growth, stem cells, and aging. We discovered that PR interacts with the Pol III complex at tRNA genes and downregulates their transcription. We are investigating the mechanism of PR and other nuclear receptor regulation of Pol III transcribed tRNAs using targeted and genome-wide approaches, and considering the impact on selective mRNA translation. We are studying the role of the conserved Pol III repressor MAF1 in PR regulation of tRNAs. The goal is to understand how hormones impinge on Pol III to regulate cell phenotype during normal, transformative, and cancerous stages.