RNA Polymerase II transcription elongation and Pol II CTD Ser2 phosphorylation: A tail of two kinases

• Authors: Elizabeth A. Bowman, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; William G Kelly, Emory University
• Journal Title: Nucleus
• Volume: Volume 5, Number 3
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Open | 2014-05-30, Pages 224-236
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.4161/nucl.29347
• Subjects: Environmental Sciences; Biology, Genetics
• Keywords: Bur1; C. elegans; Cdk12; Cdk9; Ctk1; P-TEFb; RNA Polymerase II; Serine 2; elongation; transcription; Animals; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 9; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; Humans; Phosphorylation; RNA Polymerase II; Serine; Transcription, Genetic

Abstract

The transition between initiation and productive elongation during RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) transcription is a well-appreciated point of regulation across many eukaryotes. Elongating Pol II is modified by phosphorylation of serine 2 (Ser2) on its carboxy terminal domain (CTD) by two kinases, Bur1/Ctk1 in yeast and Cdk9/Cdk12 in metazoans. Here, we discuss the roles and regulation of these kinases and their relationship to Pol II elongation control, and focus on recent data from work in C. elegans that point out gaps in our current understand of transcription elongation.