Coupling of RNA Polymerase II Transcription Elongation with Pre-mRNA Splicing

J Mol Biol. 2016 Jun 19;428(12):2623-2635. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.04.017. Epub 2016 Apr 20.

Abstract

Pre-mRNA maturation frequently occurs at the same time and place as transcription by RNA polymerase II. The co-transcriptionality of mRNA processing has permitted the evolution of mechanisms that functionally couple transcription elongation with diverse events that occur on the nascent RNA. This review summarizes the current understanding of the relationship between transcriptional elongation through a chromatin template and co-transcriptional splicing including alternative splicing decisions that affect the expression of most human genes.

Keywords: CTD; RNA polymerase II; alternative splicing; kinetic coupling; transcription elongation.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing / physiology*
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Humans
  • RNA Polymerase II / metabolism*
  • RNA Precursors / metabolism*
  • RNA Splicing / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic / physiology*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • RNA Precursors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA Polymerase II