Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Epigenetic Modifications and Metabolic Rewiring as Targets for Cancer Therapy
Published on: October 18, 2024
RNA polymerase II at histone genes predicts outcome in human cancer
Steven Henikoff1,2, Ye Zheng1, Ronald M Paranal3
1Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
Abstract:
Genome-wide hypertranscription is common in human cancer and predicts poor prognosis. To understand how hypertranscription might drive cancer, we applied our formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE)-cleavage under targeted accessible chromatin method for mapping RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) genome-wide in FFPE sections. We demonstrate global RNAPII elevations in mouse gliomas and assorted human tumors in small clinical samples and discover regional elevations corresponding to de novo HER2 amplifications punctuated by likely selective sweeps. RNAPII occupancy at S-phase-dependent histone genes correlated with WHO grade in meningiomas, accurately predicted rapid recurrence, and corresponded to whole-arm chromosome losses. Elevated RNAPII at histone genes in meningiomas and diverse breast cancers is consistent with histone production being rate-limiting for S-phase progression and histone gene hypertranscription driving overproliferation and aneuploidy in cancer, with general implications for precision oncology.
More Related Videos
13:20Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ChIP to Assay Dynamic Histone Modification in Activated Gene Expression in Human Cells
Published on: July 29, 2010
08:12Global Level Quantification of Histone Post-Translational Modifications in a 3D Cell Culture Model of Hepatic Tissue
Published on: May 5, 2022
Related Concept Videos
RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins
Epigenetic Regulation
X-chromosome...
Histone Variants at the Centromere
Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
Histone Modification
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone...
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing
The chromatin structure, especially...