Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2026

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events
Published on: May 13, 2019
Transcription through the roadblocks: the role of RNA polymerase cooperation
Vitaly Epshtein1, Francine Toulmé, A Rachid Rahmouni
1Department of Biochemistry, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Abstract:
During transcription, cellular RNA polymerases (RNAP) have to deal with numerous potential roadblocks imposed by various DNA binding proteins. Many such proteins partially or completely interrupt a single round of RNA chain elongation in vitro. Here we demonstrate that Escherichia coli RNAP can effectively read through the site-specific DNA-binding proteins in vitro and in vivo if more than one RNAP molecule is allowed to initiate from the same promoter. The anti-roadblock activity of the trailing RNAP does not require transcript cleavage activity but relies on forward translocation of roadblocked complexes. These results support a cooperation model of transcription whereby RNAP molecules behave as 'partners' helping one another to traverse intrinsic and extrinsic obstacles.
Related Concept Videos
Transcription Initiation
The promoters and enhancers and their accessory proteins allow tight regulation of...
Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria
Bacterial RNA Polymerase
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
Bacterial RNA Polymerase
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
Bacterial Transcription
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...

