Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Biochem Soc Trans. 2022 Feb 28;50(1):283-295. doi: 10.1042/BST20201140.
Transcription establishes the universal first step of gene expression where RNA is produced by a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The most versatile of eukaryotic RNA polymerases, RNA polymerase II (Pol II), transcribes a broad range of DNA including protein-coding and a variety of non-coding transcription units. Although Pol II can be configured as a durable enzyme capable of transcribing hundreds of kilobases, there is reliable evidence of widespread abortive Pol II transcription termination shortly after initiation, which is often followed by rapid degradation of the associated RNA. The molecular details underlying this phenomenon are still vague but likely reflect the action of quality control mechanisms on the early Pol II complex. Here, we summarize current knowledge of how and when such promoter-proximal quality control is asserted on metazoan Pol II.
转录是基因表达的普遍第一步,在此过程中,RNA 由依赖于 DNA 的 RNA 聚合酶产生。真核生物 RNA 聚合酶中最通用的 RNA 聚合酶 II(Pol II)转录包括蛋白质编码和各种非编码转录单元在内的广泛的 DNA。尽管 Pol II 可以被配置为一种持久的酶,能够转录数百千碱基对,但有可靠的证据表明,在起始后不久,Pol II 转录就会广泛地发生无意义终止,随后通常伴随着相关 RNA 的快速降解。这种现象背后的分子细节仍然不清楚,但可能反映了质量控制机制对早期 Pol II 复合物的作用。在这里,我们总结了目前关于真核生物 Pol II 如何以及何时实施这种启动子近端质量控制的知识。