Work

Mammalian Genes Are Transcribed with Widely Different Bursting Kinetics

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: In prokaryotes and eukaryotes, most genes appear to be transcribed during short periods called transcriptional bursts, interspersed by silent intervals. We describe how such bursts generate gene-specific temporal patterns of messenger RNA (mRNA) synthesis in mammalian cells. To monitor transcription at high temporal resolution, we established various gene trap cell lines and transgenic cell lines expressing a short-lived luciferase protein from an unstable mRNA, and recorded bioluminescence in real time in single cells. Mathematical modeling identified gene-specific on- and off-switching rates in transcriptional activity and mean numbers of mRNAs produced during the bursts. Transcriptional kinetics were markedly altered by cis-regulatory DNA elements. Our analysis demonstrated that bursting kinetics are highly gene-specific, reflecting refractory periods during which genes stay inactive for a certain time before switching on again.

Source: Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.1198817

Authors: David M. Suter, Nacho Molina, David Gatfield, Kim Schneider, Ueli Schibler, Felix Naef

Institutions: University of Geneva, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, University of Lausanne

Language: English

Topic: Gene Regulatory Network Analysis

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2105512180

FWCI: 18.72

Cites: 39

Cited by: 928

Related to: 10