title: RNA Polymerase Collision versus DNA Structural Distortion: Twists and Turns Can Cause Break Failure.
abstract: The twisting of DNA due to the movement of RNA polymerases is the basis of numerous classic experiments in molecular biology. Recent mouse genetic models indicate that chromosomal breakage is common at sites of transcriptional turbulence. Two key studies on this point mapped breakpoints to sites of either convergent or divergent transcription but arrived at different conclusions as to which is more detrimental and why. The issue hinges on whether DNA strand separation is the basis for the chromosomal instability or collision of RNA polymerases.
authors.affiliation: USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 1441 Eastlake Ave, Room 5428, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Pannunzio
authors.affiliation: USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 1441 Eastlake Ave, Room 5428, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. Electronic address: lieber@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lieber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D043171:Chromosomal Instability; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004247:DNA; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases