Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends01:35

Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends

In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps the cell...
Transcription01:17

Transcription

Transcription is the synthesis of RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in correctly synthesizing messenger RNA (mRNA). Transcriptional regulation is responsible for the differentiation of different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds of RNA Molecules
In eukaryotes,...
Transcription01:10

Transcription

Overview
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
Transcription01:10

Transcription

Overview
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
Transcription01:17

Transcription

Transcription is the synthesis of RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in correctly synthesizing messenger RNA (mRNA). Transcriptional regulation is responsible for the differentiation of different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds of RNA Molecules
In eukaryotes,...
Bacterial Transcription01:53

Bacterial Transcription

RNA polymerase (RNAP) carries out DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in both bacteria and eukaryotes. Bacteria do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. So, transcription and translation occur simultaneously, on the same DNA template.
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Mechanism of RACK1-dependent ZAKα activation at stalled and collided ribosomes.

Molecular cell·2026
Same author

A role for human senataxin in contending with pausing and backtracking during transcript elongation.

Molecular cell·2025
Same author

Transcription quality control at the promoter-proximal checkpoint.

Genes & development·2025
Same author

PAF1C-mediated activation of CDK12/13 kinase activity is critical for CTD phosphorylation and transcript elongation.

Molecular cell·2025
Same author

STK19 facilitates the clearance of lesion-stalled RNAPII during transcription-coupled DNA repair.

Cell·2024
Same author

Redundant pathways for removal of defective RNA polymerase II complexes at a promoter-proximal pause checkpoint.

Molecular cell·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Measurement of Poly A Tail Length from Drosophila Larva Brain and Cell Line
08:16

Measurement of Poly A Tail Length from Drosophila Larva Brain and Cell Line

Published on: January 12, 2024

Transcription: another mark in the tail.

Jesper Q Svejstrup1

  • 1Mechanisms of Transcription Laboratory, Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, South Mimms, UK. j.svejstrup@cancer.org.uk

The EMBO Journal
|May 24, 2012
PubMed
Summary

The C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II has key phosphorylation sites. New research highlights a critical, previously underestimated role for threonine-4 phosphorylation in the transcription cycle.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Expression
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) subunit is essential for transcription.
  • The CTD consists of repeated heptapeptide sequences with multiple phosphorylation sites, including serine-2, serine-5, and serine-7.
  • Dynamic phosphorylation of these sites regulates the transcription cycle in mammalian cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional significance of threonine-4 phosphorylation within the RNAPII CTD.
  • To elucidate the role of Thr(4) phosphorylation in supporting transcription-associated events.
  • To provide a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing the transcription cycle.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of RNAPII CTD phosphorylation patterns.

More Related Videos

Laser Microdissection for Species-Agnostic Single-Tissue Applications
08:57

Laser Microdissection for Species-Agnostic Single-Tissue Applications

Published on: March 31, 2022

Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on (TRO) Approach
12:12

Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on (TRO) Approach

Published on: March 12, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Measurement of Poly A Tail Length from Drosophila Larva Brain and Cell Line
08:16

Measurement of Poly A Tail Length from Drosophila Larva Brain and Cell Line

Published on: January 12, 2024

Laser Microdissection for Species-Agnostic Single-Tissue Applications
08:57

Laser Microdissection for Species-Agnostic Single-Tissue Applications

Published on: March 31, 2022

Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on (TRO) Approach
12:12

Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on (TRO) Approach

Published on: March 12, 2017

  • Biochemical assays to assess transcription dynamics.
  • Cellular studies to evaluate the impact of Thr(4) phosphorylation modifications.

    • Main Results:

    • Previously identified phosphorylation sites (Ser(2), Ser(5), Ser(7)) have known functions in transcription.
    • This study reveals a critical and previously unappreciated role for threonine-4 phosphorylation.
    • Thr(4) phosphorylation is shown to be crucial for specific transcription-associated events.

    Conclusions:

    • Threonine-4 phosphorylation is an essential regulatory modification of the RNAPII CTD.
    • Understanding Thr(4) phosphorylation provides new insights into the regulation of the transcription cycle.
    • This finding expands our knowledge of the complex post-translational modifications governing gene expression.