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

Transcription Elongation Factors02:35

Transcription Elongation Factors

10.9K
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...
10.9K
Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes02:42

Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes

15.3K
Transcriptional attenuation occurs when RNA transcription is prematurely terminated due to the formation of a terminator mRNA hairpin structure.  Bacteria use these hairpins to regulate the transcription process and control the synthesis of several amino acids including histidine, lysine, threonine, and phenylalanine. Transcription attenuation takes place in the non-coding regions of mRNA.
There are several different mechanisms used to attenuate transcription. In ribosome mediated...
15.3K
Bacterial Transcription01:53

Bacterial Transcription

28.2K
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:
28.2K
RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins02:36

RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins

9.2K
Proteins that regulate transcription can do so either via direct contact with RNA Polymerase or through indirect interactions facilitated by adaptors, mediators, histone-modifying proteins, and nucleosome remodelers. Direct interactions to activate transcription is seen in bacteria as well as in some eukaryotic genes. In these cases, upstream activation sequences are adjacent to the promoters, and the activator proteins interact directly with the transcriptional machinery. For example, in...
9.2K
Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases00:58

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

24.2K
RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
24.2K
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing02:41

Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing

7.0K
In eukaryotic cells, nascent mRNA transcripts need to undergo many post-transcriptional modifications to reach the cell cytoplasm and translate into functional proteins. For a long time, transcription and pre-mRNA processing were considered two independent events that occur sequentially in the cell. However, it has now been well established that transcription and pre-mRNA processing are two simultaneous processes that are precisely regulated inside the cell.
The chromatin structure, especially...
7.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

A modular framework for automated segmentation and analysis of AFM imaging of chromatin organization.

Nucleic acids research·2026
Same author

ELOF1 is a core component of the promoter-proximal paused RNA polymerase II complex.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

A sequence‑encoded promoter proximal super pause stabilizes an offline RNA polymerase II state.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Structural basis for CTCF-mediated chromatin organization.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

MYC binding to nascent RNA suppresses innate immune signaling by R-loop-derived RNA-DNA hybrids.

Cell·2026
Same author

Chromatin boundary permeability is controlled by CTCF conformational ensembles.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events
10:59

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events

Published on: May 13, 2019

9.7K

Distinct negative elongation factor conformations regulate RNA polymerase II promoter-proximal pausing.

Bonnie G Su1, Seychelle M Vos2

  • 1Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 68, 31 Ames St., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

Molecular Cell
|February 24, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The study reveals how the Negative Elongation Factor (NELF) complex adopts distinct conformations to regulate RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pausing and elongation during gene expression. NELF

Keywords:
DSIFNELFRNA polymerase IITFIISpromoter proximal pausingtranscription

More Related Videos

A Murine Cell Line Based Model of Chronic CDK9 Inhibition to Study Widespread Non-Genetic Transcriptional Elongation Defects TEdeff in Cancers
10:49

A Murine Cell Line Based Model of Chronic CDK9 Inhibition to Study Widespread Non-Genetic Transcriptional Elongation Defects TEdeff in Cancers

Published on: September 26, 2019

5.6K
In Vitro Transcription Assays and Their Application in Drug Discovery
09:28

In Vitro Transcription Assays and Their Application in Drug Discovery

Published on: September 20, 2016

15.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events
10:59

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events

Published on: May 13, 2019

9.7K
A Murine Cell Line Based Model of Chronic CDK9 Inhibition to Study Widespread Non-Genetic Transcriptional Elongation Defects TEdeff in Cancers
10:49

A Murine Cell Line Based Model of Chronic CDK9 Inhibition to Study Widespread Non-Genetic Transcriptional Elongation Defects TEdeff in Cancers

Published on: September 26, 2019

5.6K
In Vitro Transcription Assays and Their Application in Drug Discovery
09:28

In Vitro Transcription Assays and Their Application in Drug Discovery

Published on: September 20, 2016

15.2K

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Regulation
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Metazoan gene expression relies on RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pausing.
  • DSIF and NELF are key factors stabilizing Pol II pausing.
  • NELF's role in elongation versus pausing has been debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the structural mechanisms of NELF in regulating Pol II transcription.
  • To understand how NELF transitions between paused and poised states.
  • To define NELF's role in Pol II reactivation and elongation.

Main Methods:

  • Cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine structures of Pol II-DSIF-NELF complexes.
  • Biochemical assays to assess NELF conformations and interactions.
  • Analysis of NELF-A tentacle interactions with RPB2.

Main Results:

  • Identified two NELF conformations: paused and poised.
  • The paused state promotes Pol II stalling, while the poised state allows elongation.
  • The poised NELF state facilitates TFIIS binding for Pol II reactivation.
  • NELF-A's interaction with RPB2 is crucial for Pol II pausing.

Conclusions:

  • NELF dynamically regulates Pol II activity through distinct structural states.
  • NELF facilitates both transcription pausing and subsequent reactivation/elongation.
  • Structural insights into NELF function provide a framework for understanding gene expression control.