title: Transcription factories: quantitative studies of nanostructures in the mammalian nucleus.
abstract: Transcription by the three nuclear RNA polymerases is carried out in transcription factories. This conclusion has been drawn from estimates of the total number of nascent transcripts or active polymerase molecules and the number of transcription sites within a cell. Here we summarise the variety of methods used to determine these parameters, discuss their associated problems and outline future prospects.
authors.affiliation: MRC-Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College School of Science, Technology and Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Sonya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pombo
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008957:Models, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases