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Transcription regulation during stable elongation by a reversible halt of RNA polymerase II

Regulation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) during transcription is essential for controlling gene expression. Here we report that the transcriptional activity of RNAPII at the Balbiani ring 2.1 gene could be halted during stable elongation in salivary gland cells of Chironomus tentans larvae for exten...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Kaminski, Tim Patrick, Siebrasse, Jan Peter, Kubitscheck, Ulrich
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: The American Society for Cell Biology 2014
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4091832/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24850889
http://dx.doi.org/10.1091/mbc.E14-02-0755
Descripción
Sumario:Regulation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) during transcription is essential for controlling gene expression. Here we report that the transcriptional activity of RNAPII at the Balbiani ring 2.1 gene could be halted during stable elongation in salivary gland cells of Chironomus tentans larvae for extended time periods in a regulated manner. The transcription halt was triggered by heat shock and affected all RNAPII independently of their position in the gene. During the halt, incomplete transcripts and RNAPII remained at the transcription site, the phosphorylation state of RNAPII was unaltered, and the transcription bubbles remained open. The transcription of halted transcripts was resumed upon relief of the heat shock. The observed mechanism allows cells to interrupt transcription for extended time periods and rapidly reactivate it without the need to reinitiate transcription of the complete gene. Our results suggest a so-far-unknown level of transcriptional control in eukaryotic cells.