Structure and mechanism of the RNA polymerase II transcription machinery.
Genes Dev
; 34(7-8): 465-488, 2020 04 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32238450
ABSTRACT
RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcribes all protein-coding genes and many noncoding RNAs in eukaryotic genomes. Although Pol II is a complex, 12-subunit enzyme, it lacks the ability to initiate transcription and cannot consistently transcribe through long DNA sequences. To execute these essential functions, an array of proteins and protein complexes interact with Pol II to regulate its activity. In this review, we detail the structure and mechanism of over a dozen factors that govern Pol II initiation (e.g., TFIID, TFIIH, and Mediator), pausing, and elongation (e.g., DSIF, NELF, PAF, and P-TEFb). The structural basis for Pol II transcription regulation has advanced rapidly in the past decade, largely due to technological innovations in cryoelectron microscopy. Here, we summarize a wealth of structural and functional data that have enabled a deeper understanding of Pol II transcription mechanisms; we also highlight mechanistic questions that remain unanswered or controversial.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Transcription, Genetic
/
RNA Polymerase II
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Genes Dev
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Year:
2020
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States