Control of non-productive RNA polymerase II transcription via its early termination in metazoans. (28th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rouvière, Jérôme O.; Lykke-Andersen, Søren; Jensen, Torben Heick
• Is Part Of: Biochemical Society transactions. Volume 50:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 283
• Page End: 295
• Publication Date: 2022-02-28
• Subjects: ARS2/SRRT -- cleavage and polyadenylation machinery -- integrator complex -- RNA polymerase II -- transcription termination -- Wdr82/Zc3h4; Biochemistry -- Congresses; 572
• DOI: 10.1042/BST20201140
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-5127

Abstract

Abstract : 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.