Poised RNA polymerase II changes over developmental time and prepares genes for future expression.

ABSTRACT: Poised RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is predominantly found at developmental control genes and is thought to allow their rapid and synchronous induction in response to extracellular signals. How the recruitment of poised RNA Pol II is regulated during development is not known. By isolating muscle tissue from Drosophila embryos at five stages of differentiation, we show that the recruitment of poised Pol II occurs at many genes de novo and this makes them permissive for future gene expression. A comparison with other tissues shows that these changes are stage specific and not tissue specific. In contrast, Polycomb group repression is tissue specific, and in combination with Pol II (the balanced state) marks genes with highly dynamic expression. This suggests that poised Pol II is temporally re

SUBMITTER: Gaertner B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3572839 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature