Coupling RNA polymerase II transcription with pre-mRNA processing

How are transcription and processing of mRNA precursors co-ordinated The pa st two years has witnessed exciting insights into the mechanism which targe ts the mRNA processing machinery to RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcriptio n complexes and closely integrates processing with transcription. Protein-p rotein contacts have been discovered between the pol II transcription machi nery and RNA processing factors; furthermore, a unique domain of pol II has been identified that not only recruits processing factors but also control s their activity.