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Updated: May 9, 2026
10:28
Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers
Published on: September 20, 2018
Directing transcription to the right way
1Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA.
Cell Research
|July 31, 2013
Summary
Cells prevent unwanted gene transcription using early termination of upstream antisense transcripts and protection of downstream sense transcripts by U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP). This ensures accurate gene expression.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Gene Regulation
- Transcription
Background:
- Productive transcription from divergent promoters requires precise regulation to target the correct DNA region.
- Understanding how cells limit transcription to specific protein-coding regions is crucial for gene expression control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanisms cells employ to restrict productive transcription to downstream protein-coding regions from divergent promoters.
- To identify the factors involved in preventing premature transcription termination and cleavage.
Main Methods:
- Investigated early termination pathways for upstream antisense transcripts.
- Examined the role of polyadenylation signals in transcript termination.
- Assessed the protective function of U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) for downstream sense transcripts.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that upstream antisense transcripts are terminated early via a polyadenylation signal-dependent pathway.
- Revealed that U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) protects downstream sense transcripts from premature cleavage.
- Established a dual mechanism for precise transcription control at divergent promoters.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a novel mechanism involving early antisense transcript termination and sense transcript protection by U1 snRNP.
- This coordinated process ensures accurate and productive transcription from divergent promoters, safeguarding protein-coding gene expression.
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01:10Transcription
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...
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...
01:17Transcription
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,...
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds of RNA Molecules
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01:10Transcription
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...
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...
01:17Transcription
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,...
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02:35Transcription Elongation Factors
Transcription elongation is a dynamic process that alters depending upon the sequence heterogeneity of the DNA being transcribed. Hence, it is not surprising that the elongation complex's composition also varies along the way while transcribing a gene.
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA into a...
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA into a...
02:35Transcription Elongation Factors
Transcription elongation is a dynamic process that alters depending upon the sequence heterogeneity of the DNA being transcribed. Hence, it is not surprising that the elongation complex's composition also varies along the way while transcribing a gene.
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA into a...
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA into a...