Interactions between RNA polymerase and the “core recognition element” counteract pausing

Pausing for control of gene expression Pausing during gene transcription can play a critical role in gene regulation. Vvedenskaya et al. mapped pause sites across the whole genome in actively growing Escherichia coli (see the Perspective by Roberts). Thousands of undocumented pause sites were identified across well-transcribed genes, allowing the definition of a consensus pause sequence that is dependent on specific interactions of RNA polymerase with the DNA template and nascent RNA transcript. Science , this issue p. 1285 ; see also p. 1226