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Transcriptional termination of mammalian RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is an essential but little-understood step in protein-coding gene expression. Mechanistically, termination by all DNA-dependent RNA polymerases can be reduced to two steps, namely release of the RNA transcript and release of the DNA template. Using a simple nuclear fractionation procedure, we have monitored transcript and template release in the context of both natural and artificial Pol II terminator sequences. We describe the timing and relationship between these events and in so doing establish the roles of the poly(A) signal, cotranscriptional RNA cleavage events, and 5'-3' exonucleolytic RNA degradation in the mammalian Pol II termination process.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.molcel.2007.12.019

Type

Journal article

Journal

Mol Cell

Publication Date

14/03/2008

Volume

29

Pages

600 - 610

Keywords

3' Untranslated Regions, Animals, Gene Expression Regulation, Globins, HeLa Cells, Humans, RNA, RNA Polymerase II, RNA Precursors, RNA, Messenger, Transcription, Genetic