title: How eukaryotic genes are transcribed.
abstract: Regulation of eukaryotic gene expression is far more complex than one might have imagined 30 years ago. However, progress towards understanding gene regulatory mechanisms has been rapid and comprehensive, which has made the integration of detailed observations into broadly connected concepts a challenge. This review attempts to integrate the following concepts: (1) a well-defined organization of nucleosomes and modification states at most genes; (2) regulatory networks of sequence-specific transcription factors; (3) chromatin remodeling coupled to promoter assembly of the general transcription factors and RNA polymerase II; and (4) phosphorylation states of RNA polymerase II coupled to chromatin modification states during transcription. The wealth of new insights arising from the tools of biochemistry, genomics, cell biology, and genetics is providing a remarkable view into the mechanics of gene regulation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Venters
authors.forename: B Franklin
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Pugh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D009707:Nucleosomes; D012319:RNA Polymerase II