RNA polymerase II stalling: loading at the start prepares genes for a sprint.

Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Department, Yale University, PO Box 208103, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. Michael.Snyder@yale.edu

Stalling of RNA polymerase II near the promoter has recently been found to be much more common than previously thought. Genome-wide surveys of the phenomenon suggest that it is likely to be a rate-limiting control on gene activation that poises developmental and stimulus-responsive genes for prompt expression when inducing signals are received.

PMID: 18466645 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC2441479