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Updated: Aug 29, 2025

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events
Published on: May 13, 2019
Take a break: Transcription regulation and RNA processing by the Integrator complex
Kevin Sabath1, Stefanie Jonas1
1Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
The metazoan-specific Integrator complex is a >1.5 MDa machinery that interacts with RNA polymerase II (RNAP2) to attenuate coding gene transcription by early termination close to transcription start sites. Using a highly related mechanism, Integrator also performs the initial 3'-end processing step for many non-coding RNAs. Its transcription regulation functions are essential for cell differentiation and response to external stimuli. Recent studies revealed that the complex incorporates phosphatase PP2A to counteract phosphorylation reactions that are required for transcription elongation. Structures of Integrator bound to RNAP2 explain the basis for its recruitment to promoter proximal RNAP2 by recognition of its paused state. Furthermore, several studies indicate that Integrator's cleavage activity is regulated at multiple levels through activators, modifications, and small molecules.
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