The concept of early termination as an important means of transcriptional control has long been established. Even so, its role in metazoan gene expression is underappreciated. Recent technological advances provide novel insights into premature transcription termination (PTT). This process is frequent, widespread, and can occur close to the transcription start site (TSS), or within the gene body. Stable prematurely terminated transcripts contribute to the transcriptome as instances of alternative polyadenylation (APA). Independently of transcript stability and function, premature termination opposes the formation of full-length transcripts, thereby negatively regulating gene expression, especially of transcriptional regulators. Premature termination can be beneficial or harmful, depending on its context. As a result, multiple factors have evolved to control this process.

早已终止作为转录控制的重要手段的概念早已确立。即使如此，其在后生动物基因表达中的作用仍未被充分认识。最近的技术进步为过早转录终止（PTT）提供了新颖的见解。该过程是频繁的，广泛的，并且可以发生在转录起始位点（TSS）附近或基因体内。稳定的过早终止的转录本作为备选聚腺苷酸化（APA）的实例有助于转录组。独立于转录物稳定性和功能，过早终止与全长转录物的形成相反，从而负面调节基因表达，尤其是转录调节因子的表达。提前终止可能是有利的，也可能是有害的，具体取决于其上下文。因此，