Fast transcription rates of RNA polymerase II in human cells.
Averaged estimates of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) elongation rates in mammalian cells have been shown to range between 1.3 and 4.3 kb min(-1). In this work, nascent RNAs from an integrated human immunodeficiency virus type 1-derived vector were detectable at the single living cell level by fluorescent RNA tagging. At steady state, a constant number of RNAs was measured corresponding to a minimal density of polymerases with negligible fluctuations over time. Recovery of fluorescence after photobleaching was complete within seconds, indicating a high rate of RNA biogenesis. The calculated transcription rate above 50 kb min(-1) points towards a wide dynamic range of RNAPII velocities in living cells.
Laboratory of Molecular Virology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, Trieste 34149, Italy. paolo.maiuri@curie.fr
Paolo
P
Maiuri
Anna
A
Knezevich
Alex
A
De Marco
Davide
D
Mazza
Anna
A
Kula
Jim G
JG
McNally
Alessandro
A
Marcello
D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D036681:Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012319:RNA Polymerase II