Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events
10:59

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events

Published on: May 13, 2019

RNA polymerase II targets pre-mRNA splicing factors to transcription sites in vivo

T Misteli1, D L Spector

  • 1National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. mistelit@mail.nih.gov

Molecular Cell
|July 8, 1999
PubMed

Insights

The C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II is crucial for recruiting splicing factors to active genes. Without the CTD, pre-mRNA splicing is significantly impaired in mammalian cells.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Expression
  • RNA Processing

Background:

  • Splicing factors interact with the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II's largest subunit (RNA pol II LS).
  • The functional significance of this interaction in vivo remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vivo role of the RNA pol II LS CTD in pre-mRNA splicing.
  • To determine if the CTD is essential for targeting splicing machinery to transcription sites.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized mammalian cell models.
  • Truncated the CTD of RNA pol II LS to assess its impact on splicing factor localization and pre-mRNA splicing efficiency.

Main Results:

  • Truncation of the RNA pol II LS CTD prevented the recruitment of splicing factors to transcription sites.
  • Pre-mRNA splicing was severely reduced in cells lacking the CTD.
  • The mere presence of unspliced RNA did not suffice for splicing factor accumulation or efficient splicing.

Conclusions:

  • The CTD of RNA pol II LS plays a critical role in the intranuclear targeting of splicing factors to active transcription sites.
  • This interaction is essential for efficient pre-mRNA splicing in vivo.

More Related Videos

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins11:34

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins

Published on: August 9, 2019

A Reporter Based Cellular Assay for Monitoring Splicing Efficiency08:53

A Reporter Based Cellular Assay for Monitoring Splicing Efficiency

Published on: September 15, 2021

Related Concept Videos

RNA Splicing01:32

RNA Splicing

Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...
Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases00:58

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
RNA Splicing01:32

RNA Splicing

Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing02:41

Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing

In eukaryotic cells, nascent mRNA transcripts need to undergo many post-transcriptional modifications to reach the cell cytoplasm and translate into functional proteins. For a long time, transcription and pre-mRNA processing were considered two independent events that occur sequentially in the cell. However, it has now been well established that transcription and pre-mRNA processing are two simultaneous processes that are precisely regulated inside the cell.
The chromatin structure, especially...
Transcription Initiation01:47

Transcription Initiation

Initiation is the first step of transcription in eukaryotes. Prokaryotic RNA Polymerase (RNAP) can bind to the template DNA and start transcribing. On the other hand, transcription in eukaryotes requires additional proteins, called transcription factors, to first bind to the promoter region in the DNA template. This binding helps recruit the specific RNAP that can assemble on the DNA and start transcription.
The promoters and enhancers and their accessory proteins allow tight regulation of...
Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases00:58

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...