biostudies-literatureVeloso ANIEHS NIH HHSNHGRI NIH HHSNCI NIH HHSNIGMS NIH HHS896-905https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4032854biostudies-literatureUnknown24(6)The rate of transcription elongation plays an important role in the timing of expression of full-length transcripts as well as in the regulation of alternative splicing. In this study, we coupled Bru-seq technology with 5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole 1-β-D-ribofuranoside (DRB) to estimate the elongation rates of over 2000 individual genes in human cells. This technique, BruDRB-seq, revealed gene-specific differences in elongation rates with a median rate of around 1.5 kb/min. We found that genes with rapid elongation rates showed higher densities of H3K79me2 and H4K20me1 histone marks compared to slower elongating genes. Furthermore, high elongation rates had a positive correlation with gene length, low complexity DNA sequence, and distance from the nearest active transcription unit. Features tGenome researchRate of elongation by RNA polymerase II is associated with specific gene features and epigenetic modifications.PMC4032854P30 ES017885R01 HG0067861R21ES0209461R01HG006786P50CA130810T32 GM007544P50 CA130810R21 ES020946Magnuson BWilson TEBiewen BVeloso APaulsen MTLjungman MKirkconnell KSfalseRate of elongation by RNA polymerase II is associated with specific gene features and epigenetic modifications.The rate of transcription elongation plays an important role in the timing of expression of full-length transcripts as well as in the regulation of alternative splicing. In this study, we coupled Bru-seq technology with 5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole 1-β-D-ribofuranoside (DRB) to estimate the elongation rates of over 2000 individual genes in human cells. This technique, BruDRB-seq, revealed gene-specific differences in elongation rates with a median rate of around 1.5 kb/min. We found that genes with rapid elongation rates showed higher densities of H3K79me2 and H4K20me1 histone marks compared to slower elongating genes. Furthermore, high elongation rates had a positive correlation with gene length, low complexity DNA sequence, and distance from the nearest active transcription unit. Features t2014-01-01T00:00:00Z2014 Jun2025-04-03T22:06:37.755Z2019-06-06T12:48:42ZS-EPMC40328542471481010.1101/gr.171405.113