Core promoters as an example of the evolution of views on molecular mechanisms of vital activity under the impact of whole-genome information
Sverdlov, E.D.; Vinogradova, T.V.
Molekuliarnaia Biologiia 44(5): 773-785
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-8984 PMID: 21090234 Document Number: 643731
DNA sequences of a large number of animal genomes, combined with the information on new classes of regulatory elements traditionally viewed as intergenic, led to the revision of the concept of the genome as a linear sequence of genes with their promoters spaced by distinct intergenic regions. Instead, there emerged a conception of 'transcriptional landscape' characterized by the practical absence of boundaries between what was commonly considered genes. The concept of the core promoter, the main transcriptional cis-acting element, was also dramatically changed. The knowledge of the mechanisms of functioning of this central element of the cellular transcription system underlies the understanding of metazoan transcription in general. The review attempts to summarize the data on core promoters obtained in the last 7-10 years and to trace the evolution of the conception of them. This evolution led finally to the understanding that core promoters are active participants of the transcription regulation process rather than just passive scaffold for assembling preinitiation transcription complexes.