Cited by 29RNA and protein synthesis mechanismsGenomics and Chromatin DynamicsRNA Research and Splicing

A code for transcription elongation speed

Open access
Cohen, Eyal, Zafrir, Zohar, Tuller, Tamir·2018·RNA Biology

Abstract

The two major steps of gene expression are transcription and translation. While hundreds of studies regarding the effect of sequence features on the translation elongation process have been published, very few connect sequence features to the transcription elongation rate. We suggest, for the first time, that short transcript sub-sequences have a typical effect on RNA polymerase (RNAP) speed: we show that nucleotide 5-mers tend to have typical RNAP speed (or transcription rate), which is consistent along different parts of genes and among different groups of genes with high correlation. We also demonstrate that relative RNAP speed correlates with mRNA levels of endogenous and heterologous genes. Furthermore, we show that the estimated transcription and translation elongation rates correlate in endogenous genes. Finally, we demonstrate that our results are consistent for different high resolution experimental measurements of RNAP densities. These results suggest for the first time that transcription elongation is partly encoded in the transcript, affected by the codon-usage, and optimized by evolution with a significant effect on gene expression and organismal fitness.

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Crossref · 10.1080/15476286.2017.1384118

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  • No correlation has been found between the GC content of short DNA sub-sequences and RNA Pol II speed in budding yeast.

    “However, here, no correlation has been found between the GC content of these short sequences and RNA Pol II speed (Cohen et al, 2018).”

    From RNA polymerase II speed: a key player in controlling and adapting transcriptome composition (2021) · cites this paper as Cohen et al, 2018

    The Results (page unavailable) report a very low but statistically significant correlation between 5-mer GC score and RNAP density score (r = 0.097, p < 1.8 × 10⁻³), rather than no correlation. The paper concludes that GC content alone cannot explain the 5-mer differences, which is a narrower finding. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Genes with the highest measured RNA Pol II velocity generate more mRNAs.

    “Indeed, genes with the highest measured RNA Pol II velocity have been shown to generate more mRNAs (Danko et al, 2013; Jonkers et al, 2014; Cohen et al, 2018).”

    From RNA polymerase II speed: a key player in controlling and adapting transcriptome composition (2021) · cites this paper as Cohen et al, 2018

    The comparative-analysis section (page not provided) reports that genes with higher estimated transcription elongation rates tend to have higher mRNA levels. It does not establish that the highest *measured* RNA Pol II velocities cause genes to generate more mRNAs; the Discussion treats a direct causal effect as one possible explanation for the correlation. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Short DNA sub-sequences influence the frequency and duration of pauses in budding yeast.

    “Short DNA sub‐sequences have also been shown to influence the frequency and duration of pauses in budding yeast.”

    From RNA polymerase II speed: a key player in controlling and adapting transcriptome composition (2021) · cites this paper as Cohen et al, 2018

    The Conclusions (page unavailable) say that short DNA sub-sequences affect transcription elongation, including in the paper’s yeast analysis. But the Discussion says the study estimates typical elongation speed rather than relatively rare pauses; it does not establish an effect on pause frequency or duration. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Morgan D, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P. Molecular biology of the cell. (6th Edition). New York (NY) and Abingdon: Garland Science; 2015.

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Authors
Cohen, E., Zafrir, Z., & Tuller, T.
Affiliations
Tel Aviv University (IL)
Corresponding author
Tuller, Tamir
Venue
RNA Biology
Published
2017-11-22
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
81-94
ISSN
  • 1547-6286 (ISSN-L)
  • 1555-8584
OpenAlex
W2769217290
Cited by
29
References
56
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2
FWCI
1.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • RNA Biology (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Edmond j. Safra center for bioinfomatics at Tel Aviv University (N/A)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA Research and Splicing
Keywords
codon usage, mRNA levels, translation elongation rate, gene expression, gene expression evolution
MeSH terms
Codon, Escherichia coli, Peptide Chain Elongation, Translational, Ribosomes, DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases, RNA, Messenger, Transcription, Genetic, Genetic Fitness

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