# RNA polymerase II elongation control

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2020 · $588,281

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
RNA polymerase II (Pol II) elongation control plays a major role in regulating transcription
throughout development and differentiation of multi-cellular organisms. The process is
characterized by the default action of negative elongation factors, including NELF and DSIF that
halt transcription of initiated polymerases near promoters. These promoter-proximal paused
polymerases are either released from the template by TTF2 or other termination factors or are
allowed to enter productive elongation through the selective action of the positive elongation
factor, P-TEFb. The cyclin dependent kinase activity of P-TEFb is regulated by reversible
association with the 7SK snRNP mediated by HEXIM proteins. The main goal of this proposal is
to further define the mechanisms utilized to control Pol II elongation and to enable efficient
transcription through nucleosomes. We will use newly developed biochemical methods and
global techniques to elucidate mechanisms enabling transcription through chromatin, the role of
paused Pol II in maintaining promoter accessibility, and the role of cyclin dependent kinases and
the PAF1 complex in elongation control. We will also determine how the key elongation control
factor P-TEFb is regulated by the 7SK snRNP and examine the role of mRNA cap methylation
in elongation control. The principle investigator is a professor at the University of Iowa and this
project will be carried out in the excellent environment offered by his lab and the facilities in the
University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine. The studies proposed here should significantly
increase our understanding of mechanisms controlling gene expression and this will be useful in
explaining the dysregulation of transcription that occurs in cancer and the hijacking of elongation
control machinery by the AIDs virus.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9895832
- **Project number:** 5R35GM126908-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** David H Price
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $588,281
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-04-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9895832

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9895832, RNA polymerase II elongation control (5R35GM126908-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9895832. Licensed CC0.

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