Abstract
Transcript elongation by RNA polymerase is a dynamic process, capable of responding to a number of intrinsic and extrinsic signals. A number of elongation factors have been identified that enhance the rate or efficiency of transcription. One such class of factors facilitates RNA polymerase transcription through blocks to elongation by stimulating the polymerase to cleave the nascent RNA transcript within the elongation complex. These cleavage factors are represented by the Gre factors from prokaryotes, and TFIIS and TFIIS-like factors found in archaea and eukaryotes. High-resolution structures of RNA polymerases and the cleavage factors in conjunction with biochemical investigations and genetic analyses have provided insights into the mechanism of action of these elongation factors. However, there are yet many unanswered questions regarding the regulation of these factors and their effects on target genes.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Archaea
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Bacterial Proteins / physiology
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DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / chemistry
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DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / metabolism
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Escherichia coli Proteins
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Eukaryotic Cells
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Peptide Chain Elongation, Translational / physiology*
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Peptide Elongation Factors / physiology*
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Prokaryotic Cells
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Sequence Alignment
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Transcription Factors / physiology
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Transcription Factors, General / chemistry
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Transcription Factors, General / physiology
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Transcription, Genetic / physiology*
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Transcriptional Elongation Factors*
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mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors / chemistry
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mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors / physiology
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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Escherichia coli Proteins
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Peptide Elongation Factors
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Transcription Factors
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Transcription Factors, General
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Transcriptional Elongation Factors
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mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors
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nusA protein, E coli
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transcription factor S-II
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GREA protein, Rickettsia prowazekii
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DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases