Dynamics of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. Issue 4 (22nd December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Furlan, Mattia; de Pretis, Stefano; Pelizzola, Mattia
• Is Part Of: Briefings in bioinformatics. Volume 22:Issue 4(2021)
• Publication Date: 2020-12-22
• Subjects: RNA metabolic labeling -- nascent RNA -- RNA synthesis -- RNA processing -- RNA degradation -- mathematical modeling; Genetics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Genomes -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 572.80285
• DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbaa389
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1467-5463

Abstract

Abstract: Despite gene expression programs being notoriously complex, RNA abundance is usually assumed as a proxy for transcriptional activity. Recently developed approaches, able to disentangle transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory processes, have revealed a more complex scenario. It is now possible to work out how synthesis, processing and degradation kinetic rates collectively determine the abundance of each gene's RNA. It has become clear that the same transcriptional output can correspond to different combinations of the kinetic rates. This underscores the fact that markedly different modes of gene expression regulation exist, each with profound effects on a gene's ability to modulate its own expression. This review describes the development of the experimental and computational approaches, including RNA metabolic labeling and mathematical modeling, that have been disclosing the mechanisms underlying complex transcriptional programs. Current limitations and future perspectives in the field are also discussed.