DNA-directed termination of RNA polymerase II transcription.

ABSTRACT: RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription involves initiation from a promoter, transcriptional elongation through the gene, and termination in the terminator region. In bacteria, terminators often contain specific DNA elements provoking polymerase dissociation, but RNAPII transcription termination is thought to be driven entirely by protein co-factors. We used biochemical reconstitution, single-molecule studies, and genome-wide analysis in yeast to study RNAPII termination. Transcription into natural terminators by pure RNAPII results in spontaneous termination at specific sequences containing T-tracts. Single-molecule analysis indicates that termination involves pausing without backtracking. The "torpedo" Rat1-Rai1 exonuclease (XRN2 in humans) greatly stimulates spontaneous termination but

SUBMITTER: Han Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7615648 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature