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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Metabolic Labeling with 4-thiouracil and the Quantification of Newly Synthesized mRNA As a Proxy for RNA Polymerase II Activity
09:21

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Metabolic Labeling with 4-thiouracil and the Quantification of Newly Synthesized mRNA As a Proxy for RNA Polymerase II Activity

Published on: October 22, 2018

Fail-safe transcriptional termination for protein-coding genes in S. cerevisiae

Ana G Rondón1, Hannah E Mischo, Junya Kawauchi

  • 1Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.

Molecular Cell
|October 13, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Scientists discovered two new ways RNA polymerase II (Pol II) stops transcribing genes in yeast. These backup mechanisms prevent transcription problems and clear faulty RNA molecules.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Yeast Genetics
  • Gene Regulation

Background:

  • Transcription termination in yeast relies on polyadenylation (pA) site recognition by 3' end processing factors.
  • RNA polymerase II (Pol II) must disengage from DNA after transcription to prevent errors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate alternative transcription termination mechanisms for protein-coding genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  • To understand how polymerases failing to terminate at pA sites are handled.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the roles of the NRD complex and Rnt1 cleavage in transcription termination.
  • Analyzed the impact of these mechanisms on readthrough transcripts and mRNA processing.

Main Results:

  • Identified two alternative Pol II termination pathways: one involving the NRD complex and another mediated by Rnt1 cleavage.
  • Both pathways trigger exosome-mediated degradation of readthrough transcripts.
  • Rnt1-mediated termination can also improve the use of weak pA signals, generating functional mRNA.

Conclusions:

  • Alternative Pol II termination pathways provide fail-safe mechanisms against transcription interference.
  • These pathways ensure rapid removal of aberrant transcripts.
  • Rnt1-mediated termination contributes to both transcript quality control and functional mRNA generation.

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