Ubiquitous Transcriptional Pausing Is Independent of RNA Polymerase Backtracking

272Citations
Citations of this article
264Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

RNA polymerase (RNAP) transcribes DNA discontinuously, with periods of rapid nucleotide addition punctuated by frequent pauses. We investigated the mechanism of transcription by measuring the effect of both hindering and assisting forces on the translocation of single Escherichia coli transcription elongation complexes, using an optical trapping apparatus that allows for the detection of pauses as short as one second. We found that the vast majority of pauses are brief (1-6 s at 21°C, 1 mM NTPs), and that the probability of pausing at any particular position on a DNA template is low and fairly constant. Neither the probability nor the duration of these ubiquitous pauses was affected by hindering or assisting loads, establishing that they do not result from the backtracking of RNAP along the DNA template. We propose instead that they are caused by a structural rearrangement within the enzyme.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Neuman, K. C., Abbondanzieri, E. A., Landick, R., Gelles, J., & Block, S. M. (2003). Ubiquitous Transcriptional Pausing Is Independent of RNA Polymerase Backtracking. Cell, 115(4), 437–447. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(03)00845-6

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free