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. 2017 Jul;49(7):1045-1051.
doi: 10.1038/ng.3867. Epub 2017 May 15.

Paused RNA polymerase II inhibits new transcriptional initiation

Wanqing Shao  1 , Julia Zeitlinger  1   2
Affiliations

Paused RNA polymerase II inhibits new transcriptional initiation

Wanqing Shao et al. Nat Genet. 2017 Jul.

Abstract

RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pauses downstream of the transcription initiation site before beginning productive elongation. This pause is a key component of metazoan gene expression regulation. Some promoters have a strong disposition for Pol II pausing and often mediate faster, more synchronous changes in expression. This requires multiple rounds of transcription and thus cannot rely solely on pause release. However, it is unclear how pausing affects the initiation of new transcripts during consecutive rounds of transcription. Using our recently developed ChIP-nexus method, we find that Pol II pausing inhibits new initiation. We propose that paused Pol II helps prevent new initiation between transcription bursts, which may reduce noise.

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Comment in

  • Transcription: Paused means poised.
    Zlotorynski E. Zlotorynski E. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2017 Jul;18(7):404-405. doi: 10.1038/nrm.2017.57. Epub 2017 May 31. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2017. PMID: 28559573 No abstract available.

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