RNA polymerase II (RNA pol II) is not only the fundamental enzyme for gene expression but also the central coordinator of co-transcriptional processing. RNA pol II associates with a large number of enzymes and protein/RNA-binding factors through its C-terminal domain (CTD) that consists of tandem repeats of the heptapeptide consensus Y(1)S(2)P(3) T(4)S(5)P(6)S(7). The CTD is posttranslationally modified, yielding specific patterns (often called the CTD code) that are recognized by appropriate factors in coordination with the transcription cycle. Serine phosphorylations are currently the best characterized elements of the CTD code; however, the roles of the proline isomerization and other modifications of the CTD remain poorly understood. The dynamic remodeling of the CTD modifications by kinases, phosphatases, isomerases, and other enzymes introduce changes in the CTD structure and dynamics. These changes serve as structural switches that spatially and temporally regulate the binding of processing factors. Recent structural studies of the CTD bound to various proteins have revealed the basic rules that govern the recognition of these switches and shed light on the roles of these protein factors in the assemblies of the processing machineries.

CEITEC Central European Institute of Technology Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

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Sequence and structural determinants of RNAPII CTD phase-separation and phosphorylation by CDK7

Structural and functional characterization of the interaction between the influenza A virus RNA polymerase and the CTD of host RNA polymerase II

Cooperation between intrinsically disordered and ordered regions of Spt6 regulates nucleosome and Pol II CTD binding, and nucleosome assembly

Yeast Spt6 Reads Multiple Phosphorylation Patterns of RNA Polymerase II C-Terminal Domain In Vitro

Structure and dynamics of the RNAPII CTDsome with Rtt103

Structural insight into recognition of phosphorylated threonine-4 of RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain by Rtt103p

Molecular basis for coordinating transcription termination with noncoding RNA degradation

Structure and semi-sequence-specific RNA binding of Nrd1