RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 RNA polymerase II activity is located on the surface of protein-rich transcription factories
JF Journal of Cell Science
JO J. Cell Sci.
FD The Company of Biologists Ltd
SP 1999
OP 2007
DO 10.1242/jcs.027250
VO 121
IS 12
A1 Eskiw, Christopher H.
A1 Rapp, Alexander
A1 Carter, David R. F.
A1 Cook, Peter R.
YR 2008
UL http://jcs.biologists.org/content/121/12/1999.abstract
AB We used electron spectroscopic imaging to map nucleoplasmic transcription sites in human cells at unprecedented resolution. HeLa cells were permeabilised, nascent transcripts were extended in BrUTP by ∼40 nucleotides and the resulting BrRNA immunolabelled with gold particles before structures were viewed. Nascent RNA is almost invariably associated with polymorphic and nitrogen-rich (but phosphorus-poor) structures with a diameter of ∼87 nm and mass of 10 MDa (calculated by reference to nucleosomes with known numbers of phosphorus and nitrogen atoms). Structures with similar atomic signatures and diameters were observed using correlative microscopy and in unpermeabilised cells. Our results are consistent with RNA synthesis occurring on the surface of these huge protein-rich transcription factories.