Investigating transcription reinitiation through in vitro approaches

Abstract

By influencing the number of RNA molecules repeatedly synthesized from the same gene, the control of transcription reinitiation has the potential to shape the transcriptome. Transcription reinitiation mechanisms have been mainly addressed in vitro, through approaches based on both crude and reconstituted systems. These studies support the notion that transcription reinitiation and its regulation rely on dedicated networks of molecular interactions within transcription machineries. At the same time, comparison with in vivo transcription rates suggests that additional mechanisms, factors and conditions must exist in the nucleus, whose biochemical elucidation is a fascinating challenge for future in vitro transcription studies.

Keywords: :

• RNA polymerase
• reinitiation
• termination
• in vitro transcription
• template competition
• chromatin template

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Acknowledgments

Work in authors’ laboratory was supported by a grant from the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (PRIN 2009 Program, 200973ST5Y). M.C.B. is presently supported by a fellowship from Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC) to the University of Milano.