Transcription is a key step in our gene expression, involving three phases: initiation, elongation and termination, each phase controlled by a specific set of proteins. Although the importance of the initiation phase (initiation) is well understood, the elongation phase is now considered to be equally critical to controlling gene expression. Recent research, Professor Bomyi Lim of the University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues Dr. Samuel Keller and Dr. Hao Deng, explored how different regulatory DNA of genes affect the rate of RNA polymerase II (RNA POL II) on genes in life. Drosophila embryo. The researchers used innovative real-time imaging techniques to track and visualize RNA in newly made living cells and accurately measure the speed at which RNA POL II moves along gene bodies.
They showed that the selection of promoter and the length of the gene (exon) encoded portion does not change this rate. In contrast, the advantage of enhancers (regulating DNA) significantly affects the rate of elongation of RNA Pol II, thus leading to more mRNA-generated enhancers showing slower elongation of RNA POL II. Their study also shows that adding long non-coding sequences (introns) to the gene structure increases the pace of RNA POL II elongation genes, unlike genes with only short introns. Another key finding of their study is the constant change in the elongation of RNA Pol II. The team used a more complex analysis method to accelerate this rate after the initial start of replication gene replication at a specific developmental stage of the fruit fly embryo.
Professor Bomyi Lim and colleagues significantly improve our understanding of the role of RNA POL II in regulating genes. Their study, published in Cell Reports, is a significant leap in understanding how DNA is transcribed into Messenger RNA (mRNA). This study not only deepens our understanding of RNA POL II behavior during transcription, but also paves the way for future gene regulation research and provides valuable insights into a wide range of biological research.
Journal Reference
Keller SH, Deng H., Lim B. “Modulation of dynamic RNA Pol II elongation in Drosophila embryos.” Cell Reports 42, 2023. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113225
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About the author
Dr. Bomyi Lim He is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Engineering and a secondary member of the Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology of Perelman Medical School. She received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biomolecular engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010 and received her Ph.D. She received her PhD in Chemistry and Bioengineering from Princeton University in 2015. Using a combination of genome editing, quantitative real-time imaging, and mathematical modeling, ensures a range of dynamics of gene expression in normal development. Bomyi received the R35 Investigator Research Award (MIRA) for R35 in 2020 and the NSF Career Award in 2021.
Dr. Samuel Keller Completed a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and immediately earned a PhD in chemical and biomolecular engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. His graduate study focused on quantitative gene expression in fruit flies using fluorescent confocal microscopy to evaluate the effect of transcription factors on gene expression and RNA polymerase II elongation. Currently, Samuel is completing a postdoctoral scholarship at Merck & Co.. His work focuses on understanding the potential storage of HIV and the factors that cause the virus to persist in the tissues.
hao Deng is a PhD candidate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biomolecular engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on the dynamics of interactions between transcriptional components Fruit fly Model with confocal microscope. He investigated the interaction between enhancer and enhancer promotion in hemizygote Trans With steering measurement. He is passionate about learning cutting-edge technologies and leveraging their different lighting for complex problems.
