Introduction: Reviews on Gene Expression 2000

• Published in: Gene expression Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Author: Gottesfeld, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cognizant Communication Corporation 01.01.2001
• ISSN: 1052-2166
• DOI: 10.3727/000000001783992722

This issue of Gene Expression brings together a collection of review articles covering the broad topic of regulation of gene expression in animal cells. We begin this volume with a review of Phosphorylation in Transcription: the CTD and More, by Reidl and Egly. This review focuses on the role of phosphorylation of components of the basal transcription machinery (the general transcription factors-GTFs), the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II, and activator proteins in regulating gene expression in the transcription cycle and in RNA processing. Recent evidence has provided clues as to how transcription and the various steps in RNA processing (capping, splicing, and polyadenylation) are tied together by phosphorylation of the CTD. In the next review, White and coauthors review the basic concepts of RNA polymerase III transcription, its regulation during the cell cycle and control by tumor suppressor proteins such as p53 and Rb, and its deregulation by viral transforming proteins. The authors propose an important link between regulated pol III transcription and oncogenic transformation of cells.