Contact: Barbara K. Kennedy
science@psu.edu
814-863-4682
Penn State

Scientists Identify Key Roadblock to Gene Expression

Caption: In yeast, a nucleosome sits on top of the transcription start site, so RNA polymerase must contend with that nucleosome as soon as it begins to transcribe the gene. In contrast, nucleosomes are positioned further downstream in fruit flies, so transcription starts but then soon pauses at the first nucleosome RNA polymerase encounters.

Credit: B. Franklin Pugh lab, Penn State University

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