Effective synthesis of mammalian messenger (m)RNAs depends on many factors that together direct RNA polymerase II (pol II) through the different stages of the transcription cycle and ensure efficient cotranscriptional processing of mRNAs. In addition to the many proteins involved in transcription initiation, elongation, and termination, several noncoding (nc)RNAs also function as global transcriptional regulators. Understanding the mode of action of these non-protein regulators has been an intense area of research in recent years. Here, we describe how these ncRNAs influence key regulatory steps of the transcription process, to affect large numbers of genes. Through direct association with pol II or by modulating the activity of transcription or RNA processing factors, these regulatory RNAs perform critical roles in gene expression.

哺乳动物信使 (m) RNA 的有效合成取决于许多因素，这些因素共同指导 RNA 聚合酶 II (pol II) 通过转录周期的不同阶段，并确保 mRNA 的有效共转录加工。除了参与转录起始、延伸和终止的许多蛋白质外，一些非编码 (nc) RNA 还充当全局转录调节因子。近年来，了解这些非蛋白质调节剂的作用方式一直是研究的热点。在这里，我们描述了这些 ncRNA 如何影响转录过程的关键调控步骤，从而影响大量基因。通过与 pol II 直接结合或通过调节转录或 RNA 加工因子的活性，这些调节 RNA 在基因表达中发挥关键作用。