Abstract
The packaging of eukaryotic DNA into nucleosomal arrays permits cells to tightly regulate and fine-tune gene expression. The ordered disassembly and reassembly of these nucleosomes allows RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) conditional access to the underlying DNA sequences. Disruption of nucleosome reassembly following RNAPII passage results in spurious transcription initiation events, leading to the production of non-coding RNA (ncRNA). We review the molecular mechanisms involved in the suppression of these cryptic initiation events and discuss the role played by ncRNAs in regulating gene expression.
Highlights
Transcription of genomic regions in eukaryotes is a complex phenomenon generating a variety of Ribonucleic acid (RNA), only a subset of which is derived from protein coding genes
The non-coding transcriptome includes numerous RNA species involved in the regulation of translation, but more recent studies have indicated the presence of several types of RNA molecules that have the potential to regulate gene expression [1,2]
Recent studies have identified some of the underlying mechanisms involved that rely on maintaining highly organized chromatin structure throughout transcription
Summary
Transcription of genomic regions in eukaryotes is a complex phenomenon generating a variety of RNAs, only a subset of which is derived from protein coding genes (mRNAs). Start sites hidden within the transcribed region of genes are accessed by the RNAPII under certain conditions, resulting in cryptic transcription in both the sense and antisense directions (Figure 1A) [8,9,10].
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