The Elongation Regulators and Architectural Proteins as New Participants of Eukaryotic Gene Transcription

Until recently, the main transcription coregulator proteins were considered to be complexes that altered the chromatin structure, namely, the chromatin remodelers and histone modifiers. However, the latest studies of the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation made it possible to refine this classification. Two additional classes of transcriptional coregulators, i.e., the elongation regulators and proteins/protein complexes altering the three-dimensional chromatin structure, were identified. This review summarizes the most recent data on the possibilities of regulating the eukaryotic gene transcription by influencing the elongation and three-dimensional chromatin structure. Such topical issues as regulation of RNA polymerase II pausing and transcription elongation rate, repression of cryptic transcription in the gene body, and also the role of proteins/protein complexes in the formation of topologically isolated domains and providing communication between enhancers and gene promoters are discussed.