The RNA Polymerase II Core Promoter

2003/03/25 by Stephen T. Smale, James T. Kadonaga · 5 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #RNA Research and Splicing #RNA modifications and cancer #Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics

paper · doi:10.1146/annurev.biochem.72.121801.161520

openalex publication_date 2003/03/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15

Abstract

The events leading to transcription of eukaryotic protein-coding genes culminate in the positioning of RNA polymerase II at the correct initiation site. The core promoter, which can extend ~35 bp upstream and/or downstream of this site, plays a central role in regulating initiation. Specific DNA elements within the core promoter bind the factors that nucleate the assembly of a functional preinitiation complex and integrate stimulatory and repressive signals from factors bound at distal sites. Although core promoter structure was originally thought to be invariant, a remarkable degree of diversity has become apparent. This article reviews the structural and functional diversity of the RNA polymerase II core promoter.

Citations

• The Initiator Element: A Paradigm for Core Promoter Heterogeneity within Metazoan Protein-coding Genes
• New core promoter element in RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription: sequence-specific DNA binding by transcription factor IIB
• DNA methylation patterns and epigenetic memory

Cited by

• Identification and analysis of functional elements in 1% of the human genome by the ENCODE pilot project
• Beyond Conditional Computation: Retrieval-Augmented Genomic Foundation Models with Gengram
• Cis ‐regulatory elements of the cholinergic gene locus in the silkworm Bombyx mori
• Regulation of gene expression via the core promoter and the basal transcriptional machinery
• Promoter (genetics) [wikipedia]