New Insights into Senataxin’s Role in Transcription

A new paper from Svejstrup lab in Molecular Cell uncovers the biochemical function of Senataxin, a protein encoded by a gene that is mutated in rare and early-disabling neurodegenerative diseases.

 Key takeaways:

•  Acute senataxin depletion has no effect on transcription termination
•  Senataxin promotes RNAPII elongation in vitro and in vivo
•  Senataxin depletion increases RNAPII pausing during early elongation
•  Pausing during early elongation generates R-loops

 A role for human senataxin in contending with pausing and backtracking during transcript elongation - ScienceDirect

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