Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Gene expression

Transcription initiation unwrapped

Nature volume 483, pages 286–287 (2012)Cite this article

Subjects

A genome-wide, high-resolution study of DNA-binding sites for proteins that transcribe DNA into RNA reveals details about how this process occurs in vivo. See Article p.295

Decades of research using purified molecules in vitro have produced a basic understanding of the enzymes and mechanisms that contribute to gene expression in eukaryotes (organisms such as animals, plants and fungi). But these results must be confirmed in living cells, and a productive approach has been to use chromatin immunoprecipitation. This technique reveals the genomic locations of DNA-binding proteins such as those forming nucleosomes — DNA segments wrapped around a histone protein core — and transcription factors. Although these studies have produced a wealth of data, they have not always provided mechanistic insight. However, a paper by Rhee and Pugh1 on page 295 of this issue sheds light on several questions concerning the initiation of DNA's transcription into RNA.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Two ways of starting the synthesis of messenger RNA.

References

  1. Rhee, H. S. & Pugh, B. F. Nature 483, 295–301 (2012).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Rhee, H. S. & Pugh, B. F. Cell 147, 1408–1419 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Basehoar, A. D., Zanton, S. J. & Pugh, B. F. Cell 116, 699–709 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Struhl, K. Mol. Cell. Biol. 6, 3847–3853 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Huisinga, K. L. & Pugh, B. F. Mol. Cell 13, 573–585 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Verrijzer, C. P., Chen, J. L., Yokomori, K. & Tjian, R. Cell 81, 1115–1125 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Selleck, W. et al. Nature Struct. Mol. Biol. 8, 695–700 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Neil, H. et al. Nature 457, 1038–1042 (2009).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Xu, Z. et al. Nature 457, 1033–1037 (2009).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Singh, B. N. & Hampsey, M. Mol. Cell 27, 806–816 (2007).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Mayer, A. et al. Nature Struct. Mol. Biol. 17, 1272–1278 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stephen Buratowski is in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,

    Stephen Buratowski

Authors
  1. Stephen Buratowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen Buratowski.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Buratowski, S. Transcription initiation unwrapped. Nature 483, 286–287 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/483286a

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/483286a

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing