The Determinants of Directionality in Transcriptional Initiation

Dia N Bagchi; Vishwanath R Iyer

doi:10.1016/j.tig.2016.03.005

The Determinants of Directionality in Transcriptional Initiation

Trends Genet. 2016 Jun;32(6):322-333. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2016.03.005. Epub 2016 Apr 7.

Authors

Dia N Bagchi¹, Vishwanath R Iyer²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
² Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA. Electronic address: vishy@utexas.edu.

Abstract

A new paradigm has emerged in recent years characterizing transcription initiation as a bidirectional process encompassing a larger proportion of the genome than previously thought. Past concepts of coding genes thinly scattered among a vast background of transcriptionally inert noncoding DNA have been abandoned. A richer picture has taken shape, integrating transcription of coding genes, enhancer RNAs (eRNAs), and various other noncoding transcriptional events. In this review we give an overview of recent studies detailing the mechanisms of RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II)-based transcriptional initiation and discuss the ways in which transcriptional direction is established as well as its functional implications.

Keywords: directionality; eRNA; enhancer; nucleosome-depleted region; promoter; transcriptional initiation.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Chromatin / genetics
Enhancer Elements, Genetic*
Humans
Promoter Regions, Genetic
RNA / genetics*
RNA Polymerase II / genetics*
Transcription, Genetic*
Transcriptional Activation

Substances

Chromatin
RNA
RNA Polymerase II

Grants and funding

R01 CA095548/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States