Contreras Xavier, Benkirane Monsef, Kiernan Rosemary
Institut de Génétique Humaine; CNRS UPR1142, Laboratoire de Régulation des Gènes, Montpellier, France.
Transcription. 2013 Mar-Apr;4(2):72-6. doi: 10.4161/trns.24148.
Transcription elongation is now recognized as an important mechanism of gene regulation in eukaryotes. A large number of genes undergo an early step in transcription that is rate limiting for expression. Genome-wide studies showing that RNA polymerase II accumulates to high densities near the promoters of many genes has led to the idea that promoter-proximal pausing of transcription is a widespread, rate-limiting step in early elongation. Recent evidence suggests that much of this paused RNA polymerase II is competent for transcription elongation. Here, we discuss recent studies suggesting that RNA polymerase II that accumulates nearby the promoter of a subset of genes is undergoing premature termination of transcription.
转录延伸如今被认为是真核生物中基因调控的一种重要机制。大量基因在转录过程中经历一个早期步骤，该步骤对基因表达具有限速作用。全基因组研究表明，RNA聚合酶II在许多基因的启动子附近高密度积累，这引发了一种观点，即转录在启动子近端的暂停是早期延伸过程中一个广泛存在的限速步骤。最近的证据表明，许多处于暂停状态的RNA聚合酶II具备进行转录延伸的能力。在此，我们讨论近期的研究，这些研究表明在一部分基因的启动子附近积累的RNA聚合酶II正在经历转录的过早终止。
