Issue 38, 2021

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional bursting

Abstract

In recent years, it has been experimentally established that transcription, a fundamental biological process that involves the synthesis of messenger RNA molecules from DNA templates, does not proceed continuously as was expected. Rather, it exhibits a distinct dynamic behavior of alternating between productive phases when RNA molecules are actively synthesized and inactive phases when there is no RNA production at all. The bimodal transcriptional dynamics is now confirmed to be present in most living systems. This phenomenon is known as transcriptional bursting and it attracts significant amounts of attention from researchers in different fields. However, despite multiple experimental and theoretical investigations, the microscopic origin and biological functions of the transcriptional bursting remain unclear. Here we discuss the recent developments in uncovering the underlying molecular mechanisms of transcriptional bursting and our current understanding of them. Our analysis presents a physicochemical view of the processes that govern transcriptional bursting in living cells.

Graphical abstract: Understanding the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional bursting

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
09 Aug. 2021
Accepted
13 Sept. 2021
First published
16 Sept. 2021

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2021,23, 21399-21406

Author version available

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional bursting

A. Klindziuk and A. B. Kolomeisky, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2021, 23, 21399 DOI: 10.1039/D1CP03665C

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