{
  "abstract": "The transition of RNA polymerase II from initiation to elongation requires the timely exchange of many factors. Some initiation factors and elongation factors contact the same RNA polymerase II surfaces in an apparently mutually exclusive manner. For example, space occupied by the initiation factor TFIIH and elongation factor Spt4/5 (also known as DSIF) are predicted to overlap. To determine whether Spt4/5 actively displaces TFIIH, or binds only after TFIIH dissociates, labeled yeast nuclear extracts were combined with single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to observe their dynamics in real time. TFIIH categorically dissociates before Spt4/5 arrives, with a clear interval in between with neither factor present. Therefore, Spt4/5 binding is not required to dissociate TFIIH from RNA polymerase II. Significance Statement Proper regulation of eukaryotic gene expression is critical for proper development and response to the environment. Regulation often occurs during the transcription initiation and elongation stages of RNA synthesis. Here we use single-molecule microscopy to image the initiation factor TFIIH and the elongation factor Spt4/5, revealing their relative dynamics and the time-scales of their interactions with RNA polymerase II. We see that TFIIH dissociates before Spt4/5 arrival, indicating that the elongation factor is not required for initiation factor release from the polymerase.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115",
    "Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "James R. Portman"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kai Torrens"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Gabriela G. Giordano"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jongcheol Jeon"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Johnson Chung"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Larry J. Friedman"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jeff Gelles"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Stephen Buratowski"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4t0zafdazsp2n.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1073/pnas.2614650123",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13718754/",
  "id": "4t0zafdazsp2n",
  "issns": [
    "0027-8424",
    "1091-6490"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2614650123",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W4416341385",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13718754",
  "pmid": "42949965",
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4t0zafdazsp2n.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-02T12:22:43Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13718754",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2614650123"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1312|Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Dynamics of TFIIH and Spt4/5 during the transition from transcription initiation to elongation",
  "title_text": "Dynamics of TFIIH and Spt4/5 during the transition from transcription initiation to elongation",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-02T12:22:43Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4t0zafdazsp2n",
  "venue": "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America",
  "versions": []
}