RNA polymerase II stalling mediates cytokine gene expression

Mechanism of RNA polymerase II stalling by DNA alkylation

Several anticancer agents that form DNA adducts in the minor groove interfere with DNA replication and transcription to induce apoptosis. Therapeutic resistance can occur, however, when cells are proficient in the removal of drug-induced damage. Acylfulvenes are a class of experimental anticancer agents with a unique repair profile suggesting their capacity to stall RNA polymerase (Pol) II and ...

UV damage-induced RNA polymerase II stalling stimulates H2B deubiquitylation.

Histone H2B monoubiquitylation plays an important role in RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) elongation. Whether this modification responds to RNAPII stalling is not yet known. We report that both yeast and human cells undergo a rapid and significant H2B deubiquitylation after exposure to UV irradiation. This deubiquitylation occurs concurrently with UV-induced transcription arrest and is significantly...

Immediate mediators of the inflammatory response are poised for gene activation through RNA polymerase II stalling.

The kinetics and magnitude of cytokine gene expression are tightly regulated to elicit a balanced response to pathogens and result from integrated changes in transcription and mRNA stability. Yet, how a single microbial stimulus induces peak transcription of some genes (TNFalpha) within minutes whereas others (IP-10) require hours remains unclear. Here, we dissect activation of several lipopoly...

RNA Polymerase II Phosphorylation and Gene Expression Regulation

Bacterial Suppression of RNA Polymerase II-Dependent Host Gene Expression

Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) is a bacterial carrier state in the urinary tract that resembles commensalism at other mucosal sites. ABU strains often lack the virulence factors that characterize uropathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains and therefore elicit weak innate immune responses in the urinary tract. In addition, ABU strains are active modifiers of the host environment, which the...