title: Cracking the control of RNA polymerase II elongation by 7SK snRNP and P-TEFb.
abstract: Release of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) from promoter-proximal pausing has emerged as a critical step regulating gene expression in multicellular organisms. The transition of Pol II into productive elongation requires the kinase activity of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), which is itself under a stringent control by the inhibitory 7SK small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (7SK snRNP) complex. Here, we provide an overview on stimulating Pol II pause release by P-TEFb and on sequestering P-TEFb into 7SK snRNP. Furthermore, we highlight mechanisms that govern anchoring of 7SK snRNP to chromatin as well as means that release P-TEFb from the inhibitory complex, and propose a unifying model of P-TEFb activation on chromatin. Collectively, these studies shine a spotlight on the central role of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) in directing the inhibition and activation of P-TEFb, providing a compelling paradigm for controlling Pol II transcription with a non-coding RNA.
authors.affiliation: Medicum, Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Alexandre J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: C Quaresma
authors.affiliation: Medicum, Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Andrii
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bugai
authors.affiliation: Medicum, Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland matjaz.barboric@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Matjaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barboric
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D042925:Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B / Q000378:metabolism*; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism*; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D061805:Transcription Elongation, Genetic
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D042925:Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B; D012319:RNA Polymerase II