From the Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, Texas 78957
J Biol Chem. 2018 Sep 7;293(36):13786-13794. doi: 10.1074/jbc.R117.813485. Epub 2017 Nov 29.
Initiation and regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) in eukaryotes rely on the transcriptional regulatory elements. Promoters and enhancers share similar architectures and functions, and the prevailing view is that they can initiate bidirectional transcription. We summarize functional roles of enhancer transcription and possible mechanisms in enhancer-promoter communication. We discuss the potential roles of enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) in early elongation and highlight that transcriptional enhancers might modulate the release of paused RNAPII via 3D chromatin looping. Emerging evidence suggests that transcriptional enhancers regulate the promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII, a key rate-limiting step required for productive elongation.
真核生物中,RNA 聚合酶 II(RNAPII)转录的起始和调控依赖于转录调控元件。启动子和增强子具有相似的结构和功能,目前的观点认为它们可以启动双向转录。我们总结了增强子转录的功能作用和增强子-启动子通讯的可能机制。我们讨论了增强子 RNA(eRNA)在早期延伸中的潜在作用,并强调转录增强子可能通过 3D 染色质环化来调节暂停的 RNAPII 的释放。新出现的证据表明,转录增强子调节 RNAPII 在启动子近端的暂停,这是有效延伸所需的关键限速步骤。