Uncovering layers of human RNA polymerase II transcription

Uncovering layers of human RNA polymerase II transcription

Torben Heick Jensen

Centre for mRNP Biogenesis and Metabolism, Department of Molecular Biology, Aarhus University

In recent years DNA microarray and high-throughput sequencing technologies have challenged the “gene-centric” view that pre-mRNA is the only RNA species transcribed off protein-coding genes. Instead unorthodox transcription from within genic- and intergenic regions has been demonstrated to occur at an unexpected level. Adding to the complexity, RNAs that normally escape detection due to their short-lived nature have been identified upon depletion of the cellular machineries that normally facilitate their rapid clearance. In this talk I will describe our efforts to identify unconventional stable and unstable RNAs emitted from within, and immediately upstream human protein-coding genes. Mechanisms of their production and turn-over as well as their possible functions will be discussed.