THE RNA-POLYMERASE-II GENERAL ELONGATION-FACTORS

Synthesis of eukaryotic messenger RNA by RNA polymerase II is governed by the concerted action of a set of general transcription factors tha t control the activity of polymerase during both the initiation and el ongation stages of transcription. To date, five general elongation fac tors [P-TEFb, SII, TFIIF, Elongin (SIII) and ELL] have been defined bi ochemically. Here, we discuss these transcription factors and their ro les in controlling the activity of the RNA polymerase II elongation co mplex.