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Related Concept Videos

Transcription Elongation Factors02:35

Transcription Elongation Factors

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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...
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Bacterial Transcription01:53

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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:
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Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes02:42

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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.
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The Eukaryotic Promoter Region02:40

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The eukaryotic promoter region is a segment of DNA located upstream of a gene. It contains an RNA polymerase binding site, a transcription start site, and several cis-regulatory sequences.  The proximal promoter region is located in the vicinity of the gene and has cis-regulatory sequences and the core promoter. The core promoter is the binding site for RNA polymerase and is usually located between -35 and +35 nucleotides from the transcription start site. The distal promoter regions are...
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RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins02:36

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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...
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Restarting Stalled Replication Forks02:37

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DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart,...
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Related Experiment Video

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A Murine Cell Line Based Model of Chronic CDK9 Inhibition to Study Widespread Non-Genetic Transcriptional Elongation Defects TEdeff in Cancers
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Pause Patrol: Negative Elongation Factor's Role in Promoter-Proximal Pausing and Beyond.

Annette J Diao1, Bonnie G Su1, Seychelle M Vos2

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

Journal of Molecular Biology
|September 6, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Negative Elongation Factor (NELF) regulates RNA polymerase II pausing, a critical step in gene expression. This review details NELF

Keywords:
RNA polymerase IIgene expressionnegative elongation factorpromoter proximal pausingtranscription

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Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on TRO Approach
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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Regulation
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription is tightly regulated for proper gene expression.
  • Promoter-proximal pausing of RNA Pol II is a key regulatory step in early elongation.
  • This pausing is stabilized by transcription elongation factors, including DSIF and NELF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the multifaceted roles of NELF in gene regulation.
  • To highlight NELF's involvement in promoter-proximal pausing, transcription termination, DNA repair, and signaling.
  • To identify future research directions for NELF.

Main Methods:

  • Review of decades of cell biological research.
  • Synthesis of biochemical data.
  • Analysis of structural studies.

Main Results:

  • NELF is primarily found in metazoans and stabilizes RNA Pol II pausing.
  • NELF acts as a checkpoint, influencing the transition to productive elongation or premature termination.
  • NELF participates in DNA repair and signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

  • NELF plays a critical role in controlling gene expression through promoter-proximal pausing.
  • NELF's functions extend beyond transcription elongation to DNA repair and signaling.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate NELF's mechanisms and therapeutic potential.