Paused RNA polymerase primes promoters via RNA-mediated stabilisation of transcription factor ERα.

ABSTRACT: Regulated pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is essential for enabling rapid and coordinated transcriptional responses to signalling cues. Pausing also contributes to the formation of nucleosome-free regions with the help of chromatin remodellers. However, if these nucleosome-free regions engage with transcription factors to stimulate the transcription potential of paused promoters is not known. In this study, we demonstrate that ligand-induced estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) binding is stabilized at Pol II-paused sites. This stabilization results from an increased dwell time of ERα on chromatin, as revealed by single molecule tracking (SMT) experiments. Notably, short chromatin-associated RNAs generated by the paused Pol II contribute to enhancing ERα binding at paused promoters. We also

SUBMITTER: Mann R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12572188 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature