R-loops induce repressive chromatin marks over mammalian gene terminators

ABSTRACT: The formation of R-loops is a natural consequence of the transcription process, caused by invasion of the DNA duplex by nascent transcripts. These structures have been considered rare transcriptional by-products with potential harmful effects on genome integrity, due to the fragility of the displaced DNA coding strand. However R-loops may also possess beneficial effects as their widespread formation has been detected over CpG island promoters in human genes. Furthermore we have previously shown that R-loops are particularly enriched over G-rich terminator elements. These facilitate RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pausing prior to efficient termination. Here we reveal an unanticipated link between R-loops and RNA interference (RNAi)-dependent H3K9me2 formation over pause site termination regions

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

SUBMITTER: Kinga Kamieniarz-Gdula 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-59878 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress