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The hunt for RNA polymerase II elongation factors: a historical perspective

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology volume 26, pages 771–776 (2019)Cite this article

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Abstract

The discovery of the three eukaryotic nuclear RNA polymerases paved the way for serious biochemical investigations of eukaryotic transcription and the identification of eukaryotic transcription factors. Here we describe this adventure from our vantage point, with a focus on the hunt for factors that regulate elongation by RNA polymerase II.

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Fig. 1: SII-dependent reactivation of arrested Pol II.
Fig. 2: Elongin and the Elongin ubiquitin ligase.
Fig. 3: ELL−EAF-containing complexes and their targets.

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Acknowledgements

We thank J. Weems for help with figures and all of the many colleagues who have contributed to our laboratory’s research on Pol II elongation over the years. Because of length limitations, we have not provided exhaustive references and in some cases have cited reviews rather than primary papers. We apologize to those whose contributions to the primary literature were not cited.

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  1. Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA

    Ronald C. Conaway & Joan W. Conaway

  2. Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA

    Ronald C. Conaway & Joan W. Conaway

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Correspondence to Joan W. Conaway.

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Conaway, R.C., Conaway, J.W. The hunt for RNA polymerase II elongation factors: a historical perspective. Nat Struct Mol Biol 26, 771–776 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-019-0283-1

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