campus seminar: How to stop transcription at the start?

Transcription is the central process that interprets the genetic information stored in our DNA. Crucial processes such as response to environmental cues, cell differentiation and organismal development are regulated by transcription. To ensure the fastest possible response to the changing environment the transcribing RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is held in a poised state shortly after transcription starts on many metazoan genes. This is called promoter proximal pausing of Pol II. When the gene output is required, the paused Pol II is released into productive transcription leading to rapid gene activation. The paused polymerase is terminated by the metazoan specific Integrator complex when the gene output is not needed. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie Integrator mediated transcription termination of paused Pol II is poor. In this talk I will share some of our recent insight into this process.