Data for: A novel and ubiquitous miRNA-involved regulatory module ensures precise phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II and proper transcription

Proper transcription orchestrated by RNA polymerase II (RNPII) is crucial
for cellular development, which relies on the phosphorylation state of
RNPII’s carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD). Sporangia, developed from mycelia,
are essential for the destructive oomycetes Phytophthora, remarkable
transcriptional changes are observed during the morphological transition.
However, how these changes are rapidly triggered and their relationship
with the versatile RNPII-CTD phosphorylation remain enigmatic. Herein, we
found that Phytophthora capsici had undergone an elevation of
Ser5-phosphorylation in its uncanonical heptapeptide repeats of RNPII-CTD
during sporangia development, which subsequently changed the chromosomal
occupation of RNPII and primarily activated transcription of certain
genes. A cyclin-dependent kinase, PcCDK7, was highly induced and
phosphorylated RNPII-CTD during this morphological transition.
Mechanistically, a novel DCL1-dependent microRNA, pcamiR1, was found to be
a feedback modulator for the precise phosphorylation of RNPII-CTD by
complexing with PcAGO1 and regulating the accumulation of PcCDK7.
Moreover, this study revealed that the pcamiR1-CDK7-RNPII regulatory
module is evolutionarily conserved and the impairment of the balance
between pcamiR1 and PcCDK7 could efficiently reduce the growth and
virulence of P. capsici. Collectively, this study uncovers a novel and
evolutionarily conserved mechanism of transcription regulation that could
facilitate correct development and identifies pcamiR1 as a promising
target for disease control.