Global analysis of short RNAs reveals widespread promoter-proximal stalling and arrest of Pol II in Drosophila

Enhancers predominantly regulate gene expression during differentiation via transcription initiation

Gene transcription occurs via a cycle of linked events, including initiation, promoter-proximal pausing, and elongation of RNA polymerase II (Pol II). A key question is how transcriptional enhancers influence these events to control gene expression. Here, we present an approach that evaluates the level and change in promoter-proximal transcription (initiation and pausing) in the context of differential gene expression, genome-wide. This combinatorial approach shows that in primary cells, control of gene expression during differentiation is achieved predominantly via changes in transcription initiation rather than via release of Pol II pausing. Using genetically engineered mouse models, deleted for functionally validated enhancers of the α- and β-globin loci, we confirm that these elements regulate Pol II recruitment and/or initiation to modulate gene expression. Together, our data show that gene expression during differentiation is regulated predominantly at the level of initiation and that enhancers are key effectors of this process.

Regulation of Promoter Proximal Pausing of RNA Polymerase II in Metazoans

Regulation of transcription is a tightly choreographed process. The establishment of RNA polymerase II promoter proximal pausing soon after transcription initiation and the release of Pol II into productive elongation are key regulatory processes that occur in early elongation. We describe the techniques and tools that have become available for the study of promoter proximal pausing and their utility for future experiments. We then provide an overview of the factors and interactions that govern a multipartite pausing process and address emerging questions surrounding the mechanism of RNA polymerase II's subsequent advancement into the gene body. Finally, we address remaining controversies and future areas of study.

Fast and furious: insights of back splicing regulation during nascent RNA synthesis

Alternative splicing of eukaryotic precursor (messenger) RNAs in the nucleus not only increases transcriptomic complexity, but also expands proteomic and functional diversity. In addition to basic types of alternative splicing, recent transcriptome-wide analyses have also suggested other new types of non-canonical splicing, such as back splicing and recursive splicing, and their widespread expression across species Increasing lines of evidence have suggested mechanisms for back splicing, including insights from analyses of nascent RNA sequencing. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of back splicing regulation, and highlight its distinct characteristics in processing during nascent RNA synthesis by taking advantage of metabolic tagging nascent RNA sequencing. Features of recursive splicing are also discussed in the perspective of nascent RNA sequencing.

Basic mechanisms and kinetics of pause-interspersed transcript elongation

RNA polymerase pausing during elongation is an important mechanism in the regulation of gene expression. Pausing along DNA templates is thought to be induced by distinct signals encoded in the nucleic acid sequence and halt elongation complexes to allow time for necessary co-transcriptional events. Pausing signals have been classified as those producing short-lived elemental, long-lived backtracked, or hairpin-stabilized pauses. In recent years, structural microbiology and single-molecule studies have significantly advanced our understanding of the paused states, but the dynamics of these states are still uncertain, although several models have been proposed to explain the experimentally observed pausing behaviors. This review summarizes present knowledge about the paused states, discusses key discrepancies among the kinetic models and their basic assumptions, and highlights the importance and challenges in constructing theoretical models that may further our biochemical understanding of transcriptional pausing.

Causes and consequences of RNA polymerase II stalling during transcript elongation

The journey of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) as it transcribes a gene is anything but a smooth ride. Transcript elongation is discontinuous and can be perturbed by intrinsic regulatory barriers, such as promoter-proximal pausing, nucleosomes, RNA secondary structures and the underlying DNA sequence. More substantial blocking of Pol II translocation can be caused by other physiological circumstances and extrinsic obstacles, including other transcribing polymerases, the replication machinery and several types of DNA damage, such as bulky lesions and DNA double-strand breaks. Although numerous different obstacles cause Pol II stalling or arrest, the cell somehow distinguishes between them and invokes different mechanisms to resolve each roadblock. Resolution of Pol II blocking can be as straightforward as temporary backtracking and transcription elongation factor S-II (TFIIS)-dependent RNA cleavage, or as drastic as premature transcription termination or degradation of polyubiquitylated Pol II and its associated nascent RNA. In this Review, we discuss the current knowledge of how these different Pol II stalling contexts are distinguished by the cell, how they overlap with each other, how they are resolved and how, when unresolved, they can cause genome instability.

Genomic determinants for initiation and length of natural antisense transcripts in Entamoeba histolytica

Natural antisense transcripts (NAT) have been reported in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. While the functions of most reported NATs remain unknown, their potentials in regulating the transcription of their counterparts have been speculated. Entamoeba histolytica, which is a unicellular eukaryotic parasite, has a compact protein-coding genome with very short intronic and intergenic regions. The regulatory mechanisms of gene expression in this compact genome are under-described. In this study, by genome-wide mapping of RNA-Seq data in the genome of E. histolytica, we show that a substantial fraction of its protein-coding genes (28%) has significant transcription on their opposite strand (i.e. NAT). Intriguingly, we found the location of transcription start sites or polyadenylation sites of NAT are determined by the specific motifs encoded on the opposite strand of the gene coding sequences, thereby providing a compact regulatory system for gene transcription. Moreover, we demonstrated that NATs are globally up-regulated under various environmental conditions including temperature stress and pathogenicity. While NATs do not appear to be consequences of spurious transcription, they may play a role in regulating gene expression in E. histolytica, a hypothesis which needs to be tested.

Integrator Recruits Protein Phosphatase 2A to Prevent Pause Release and Facilitate Transcription Termination

Efficient release of promoter-proximally paused RNA Pol II into productive elongation is essential for gene expression. Recently, we reported that the Integrator complex can bind paused RNA Pol II and drive premature transcription termination, potently attenuating the activity of target genes. Premature termination requires RNA cleavage by the endonuclease subunit of Integrator, but the roles of other Integrator subunits in gene regulation have yet to be elucidated. Here we report that Integrator subunit 8 (IntS8) is critical for transcription repression and required for association with protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). We find that Integrator-bound PP2A dephosphorylates the RNA Pol II C-terminal domain and Spt5, preventing the transition to productive elongation. Thus, blocking PP2A association with Integrator stimulates pause release and gene activity. These results reveal a second catalytic function associated with Integrator-mediated transcription termination and indicate that control of productive elongation involves active competition between transcriptional kinases and phosphatases.

Influenza A virus utilizes noncanonical cap-snatching to diversify its mRNA/ncRNA

Influenza A virus (IAV) utilizes cap-snatching to obtain host capped small RNAs for priming viral mRNA synthesis, generating capped hybrid mRNAs for translation. Previous studies have been focusing on canonical cap-snatching, which occurs at the very 5' end of viral mRNAs. Here we discovered noncanonical cap-snatching, which generates capped hybrid mRNAs/noncoding RNAs mapped to the region ∼300 nucleotides (nt) upstream of each mRNA 3' end, and to the 5' region, primarily starting at the second nt, of each virion RNAs (vRNA). Like canonical cap-snatching, noncanonical cap-snatching utilizes a base-pairing between the last nt G of host capped RNAs and a nt C of template RNAs to prime RNA synthesis. However, the nt upstream of this template C is usually A/U rather than just U; prime-realignment occurs less frequently. We also demonstrate that IAV can snatch capped IAV RNAs in addition to host RNAs. Noncanonical cap-snatching likely generates novel mRNAs with start AUG encoded in viral or host RNAs. These findings expand our understanding of cap-snatching mechanisms and suggest that IAV may utilize noncanonical cap-snatching to diversify its mRNAs/ncRNAs.

JMJD5 couples with CDK9 to release the paused RNA polymerase II

More than 30% of genes in higher eukaryotes are regulated by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) promoter proximal pausing. Pausing is released by the positive transcription elongation factor complex (P-TEFb). However, the exact mechanism by which this occurs and whether phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal domain of Pol II is involved in the process remains unknown. We previously reported that JMJD5 could generate tailless nucleosomes at position +1 from transcription start sites (TSS), thus perhaps enable progression of Pol II. Here we find that knockout of JMJD5 leads to accumulation of nucleosomes at position +1. Absence of JMJD5 also results in loss of or lowered transcription of a large number of genes. Interestingly, we found that phosphorylation, by CDK9, of Ser2 within two neighboring heptad repeats in the carboxyl-terminal domain of Pol II, together with phosphorylation of Ser5 within the second repeat, HR-Ser2p (1, 2)-Ser5p (2) for short, allows Pol II to bind JMJD5 via engagement of the N-terminal domain of JMJD5. We suggest that these events bring JMJD5 near the nucleosome at position +1, thus allowing JMJD5 to clip histones on this nucleosome, a phenomenon that may contribute to release of Pol II pausing.

Antisense oligonucleotide technology can be used to investigate a circular but not linear RNA-mediated function for its encoded gene locus

As a class of powerful molecular tool, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are not only broadly used in protein and RNA biology, but also a highly selective therapeutic strategy for many diseases. Although the concept that ASO reagents only reduce expression of the targeted gene in a post-transcriptional manner has long been established, the effect and mechanism of ASO reagents on RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription are largely unknown. This raised question is particularly important for the appropriate use of ASOs and the valid interpretation of ASO-mediated experiments. In this study, our results show that linear RNA ASO attenuates transcription of nascent transcripts by inducing premature transcription termination which is combinatorially controlled by Integrator, exosome, and Rat1 in Drosophila. However, circular RNA (circRNA) ASO transfection does not affect transcription activity of the encoded gene. These data suggest that the ASO technique can be applied to study a circRNA-mediated but not linear RNA-mediated function for its encoded gene locus.

Evaluating Enhancer Function and Transcription

Cell-type- and condition-specific profiles of gene expression require coordination between protein-coding gene promoters and cis-regulatory sequences called enhancers. Enhancers can stimulate gene activity at great genomic distances from their targets, raising questions about how enhancers communicate with specific gene promoters and what molecular mechanisms underlie enhancer function. Characterization of enhancer loci has identified the molecular features of active enhancers that accompany the binding of transcription factors and local opening of chromatin. These characteristics include coactivator recruitment, histone modifications, and noncoding RNA transcription. However, it remains unclear which of these features functionally contribute to enhancer activity. Here, we discuss what is known about how enhancers regulate their target genes and how enhancers and promoters communicate. Further, we describe recent data demonstrating many similarities between enhancers and the gene promoters they control, and we highlight unanswered questions in the field, such as the potential roles of transcription at enhancers.

KAP1 Is a Chromatin Reader that Couples Steps of RNA Polymerase II Transcription to Sustain Oncogenic Programs

Precise control of the RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) cycle, including pausing and pause release, maintains transcriptional homeostasis and organismal functions. Despite previous work to understand individual transcription steps, we reveal a mechanism that integrates RNA Pol II cycle transitions. Surprisingly, KAP1/TRIM28 uses a previously uncharacterized chromatin reader cassette to bind hypo-acetylated histone 4 tails at promoters, guaranteeing continuous progression of RNA Pol II entry to and exit from the pause state. Upon chromatin docking, KAP1 first associates with RNA Pol II and then recruits a pathway-specific transcription factor (SMAD2) in response to cognate ligands, enabling gene-selective CDK9-dependent pause release. This coupling mechanism is exploited by tumor cells to aberrantly sustain transcriptional programs commonly dysregulated in cancer patients. The discovery of a factor integrating transcription steps expands the functional repertoire by which chromatin readers operate and provides mechanistic understanding of transcription regulation, offering alternative therapeutic opportunities to target transcriptional dysregulation.

Transcript isoform sequencing reveals widespread promoter-proximal transcriptional termination in Arabidopsis

RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription converts the DNA sequence of a single gene into multiple transcript isoforms that may carry alternative functions. Gene isoforms result from variable transcription start sites (TSSs) at the beginning and polyadenylation sites (PASs) at the end of transcripts. How alternative TSSs relate to variable PASs is poorly understood. Here, we identify both ends of RNA molecules in Arabidopsis thaliana by transcription isoform sequencing (TIF-seq) and report four transcript isoforms per expressed gene. While intragenic initiation represents a large source of regulated isoform diversity, we observe that ~14% of expressed genes generate relatively unstable short promoter-proximal RNAs (sppRNAs) from nascent transcript cleavage and polyadenylation shortly after initiation. The location of sppRNAs correlates with the position of promoter-proximal RNAPII stalling, indicating that large pools of promoter-stalled RNAPII may engage in transcriptional termination. We propose that promoter-proximal RNAPII stalling-linked to premature transcriptional termination may represent a checkpoint that governs plant gene expression.

The potential underlying mechanism of the leukemia caused by MLL-fusion and potential treatments

A majority of infant and pediatric leukemias are caused by the mixed-lineage leukemia gene (MLL) fused with a variety of candidates. Several underlying mechanisms have been proposed. One currently popular view is that truncated MLL1 fusion and its associated complex constitutively hijacks super elongation complex, including positive transcription elongation factor b, CDK9, and cyclin T1 complex and DOT1L, to enhance the expression of transcription factors that maintain or restore stemness of leukocytes, as well as prevent the differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. An alternative emerging view proposes that MLL1-fusion promotes the recruitment of TATA binding protein and RNA polymerase II (Pol II) initiation complex, so as to increase the expression levels of target genes. The fundamental mechanism of both theories are gain of function for truncated MLL1 fusions, either through Pol II elongation or initiation. Our recent progress in transcription regulation of paused Pol II through JMJD5, JMJD6, and JMJD7, combined with the repressive role of H3K4me3 revealed by others, prompted us to introduce a contrarian hypothesis: the failure to shut down transcribing units by MLL-fusions triggers the transformation: loss of function of truncated MLL1 fusions coupled with the loss of conversion of H3K4me1 to H3K4me3, leading to the constitutive expression of transcription factors that are in charge of maintenance of hematopoietic progenitor cells, may trigger the transformation of normal cells into cancer cells. Following this track, a potential treatment to eliminate these fusion proteins, which may ultimately cure the disease, is proposed.

TFIID Enables RNA Polymerase II Promoter-Proximal Pausing

RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription is governed by the pre-initiation complex (PIC), which contains TFIIA, TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH, RNAPII, and Mediator. After initiation, RNAPII enzymes pause after transcribing less than 100 bases; precisely how RNAPII pausing is enforced and regulated remains unclear. To address specific mechanistic questions, we reconstituted human RNAPII promoter-proximal pausing in vitro, entirely with purified factors (no extracts). As expected, NELF and DSIF increased pausing, and P-TEFb promoted pause release. Unexpectedly, the PIC alone was sufficient to reconstitute pausing, suggesting RNAPII pausing is an inherent PIC function. In agreement, pausing was lost upon replacement of the TFIID complex with TATA-binding protein (TBP), and PRO-seq experiments revealed widespread disruption of RNAPII pausing upon acute depletion (t = 60 min) of TFIID subunits in human or Drosophila cells. These results establish a TFIID requirement for RNAPII pausing and suggest pause regulatory factors may function directly or indirectly through TFIID.

The Integrator Complex Attenuates Promoter-Proximal Transcription at Protein-Coding Genes

The transition of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) from initiation to productive elongation is a central, regulated step in metazoan gene expression. At many genes, Pol II pauses stably in early elongation, remaining engaged with the 25- to 60-nt-long nascent RNA for many minutes while awaiting signals for release into the gene body. However, 15%-20% of genes display highly unstable promoter Pol II, suggesting that paused polymerase might dissociate from template DNA at these promoters and release a short, non-productive mRNA. Here, we report that paused Pol II can be actively destabilized by the Integrator complex. Specifically, we present evidence that Integrator utilizes its RNA endonuclease activity to cleave nascent RNA and drive termination of paused Pol II. These findings uncover a previously unappreciated mechanism of metazoan gene repression, akin to bacterial transcription attenuation, wherein promoter-proximal Pol II is prevented from entering productive elongation through factor-regulated termination.

Attenuation of Eukaryotic Protein-Coding Gene Expression via Premature Transcription Termination

A complex network of RNA transcripts is generated from eukaryotic genomes, many of which are processed in unexpected ways. Here, we highlight how premature transcription termination events at protein-coding gene loci can simultaneously lead to the generation of short RNAs and attenuate production of full-length mRNA transcripts. We recently showed that the Integrator (Int) complex can be selectively recruited to protein-coding gene loci, including Drosophila metallothionein A (MtnA), where the IntS11 RNA endonuclease cleaves nascent transcripts near their 5' ends. Such premature termination events catalyzed by Integrator can repress the expression of some full-length mRNAs by more than 100-fold. Transcription at small nuclear RNA (snRNA) loci is likewise terminated by Integrator cleavage, but protein-coding and snRNA gene loci have notably distinct dependencies on Integrator subunits. Additional mechanisms that attenuate eukaryotic gene outputs via premature termination have been discovered, including by the cleavage and polyadenylation machinery in a manner controlled by U1 snRNP. These mechanisms appear to function broadly across the transcriptome. This suggests that synthesis of full-length transcripts is not always the default option and that premature termination events can lead to a variety of transcripts, some of which may have important and unexpected biological functions.

Continuous transcription initiation guarantees robust repair of all transcribed genes and regulatory regions

Inhibition of transcription caused by DNA damage-impaired RNA polymerase II (Pol II) elongation conceals a local increase in de novo transcription, slowly progressing from Transcription Start Sites (TSSs) to gene ends. Although associated with accelerated repair of Pol II-encountered lesions and limited mutagenesis, it is still unclear how this mechanism is maintained during genotoxic stress-recovery. Here we uncover a widespread gain in chromatin accessibility and preservation of the active H3K27ac mark after UV-irradiation. The concomitant increase in Pol II escape from promoter-proximal pause (PPP) sites of most active genes, PROMPTs and enhancer RNAs favors unrestrained initiation, as evidenced by the synthesis of nascent RNAs including start RNAs. Accordingly, drug-inhibition of PPP-release replenishes levels of pre-initiating Pol II at TSSs after UV. Our data show that such continuous engagement of Pol II molecules ensures maximal transcription-driven repair throughout expressed genes and regulatory loci. Importantly, revealing this unanticipated regulatory layer of UV-response provides physiological relevant traction to the emerging concept that Pol II initiation rate is determined by pause-release dynamics.

A transcription-driven cellular response is activated upon UV stress. Here the authors reveal mechanistic insights into the regulatory process affecting transcription and chromatin dynamics, showing how maintaining Pol II firing safeguards the integrity of cells’ transcriptome

JMJD6 cleaves MePCE to release positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) in higher eukaryotes

More than 30% of genes in higher eukaryotes are regulated by promoter-proximal pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Phosphorylation of Pol II CTD by positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) is a necessary precursor event that enables productive transcription elongation. The exact mechanism on how the sequestered P-TEFb is released from the 7SK snRNP complex and recruited to Pol II CTD remains unknown. In this report, we utilize mouse and human models to reveal methylphosphate capping enzyme (MePCE), a core component of the 7SK snRNP complex, as the cognate substrate for Jumonji domain-containing 6 (JMJD6)’s novel proteolytic function. Our evidences consist of a crystal structure of JMJD6 bound to methyl-arginine, enzymatic assays of JMJD6 cleaving MePCE in vivo and in vitro, binding assays, and downstream effects of Jmjd6 knockout and overexpression on Pol II CTD phosphorylation. We propose that JMJD6 assists bromodomain containing 4 (BRD4) to recruit P-TEFb to Pol II CTD by disrupting the 7SK snRNP complex.

In animals, an enzyme known as RNA polymerase II (Pol II for short) is a key element of the transcription process, whereby the genetic information contained in DNA is turned into messenger RNA molecules in the cells, which can then be translated to proteins. To perform this task, Pol II needs to be activated by a complex of proteins called P-TEFb; however, P-TEFb is usually found in an inactive form held by another group of proteins. Yet, it is unclear how P-TEFb is released and allowed to activate Pol II.

Scientists have speculated that another protein called JMJD6 (Jumonji domain-containing 6) is important for P-TEFb to activate Pol II. Various roles for JMJD6 have been proposed, but its exact purpose remains unclear. Recently, two enzymes closely related to JMJD6 were found to be able to make precise cuts in other proteins; Lee, Liu et al. therefore wanted to test whether this is also true of JMJD6. Experiments using purified JMJD6 showed that it could make a cut in an enzyme called MePCE, which belongs to the group of proteins that hold P-TEFb in its inactive form.

Lee, Liu et al. then tested the relationships between these proteins in living human and mouse cells. The levels of activated Pol II were lower in cells without JMJD6 and higher in those without MePCE. Together, the results suggest that JMJD6 cuts MePCE to release P-TEFb, which then activates Pol II. JMJD6 appears to know where to cut by following a specific pattern of elements in the structure of MePCE. When MePCE was mutated so that the pattern changed, JMJD6 was unable to cut it. These results suggest that JMJD6 and related enzymes belong to a new family of proteases, the molecular scissors that can cleave other proteins.

The molecules that regulate transcription often are major drug targets, for example in the fight against cancer. Ultimately, understanding the role of JMJD6 might help to identify new avenues for cancer drug development.

Faint gray bands in Drosophila melanogaster polytene chromosomes are formed by coding sequences of housekeeping genes

In Drosophila melanogaster, the chromatin of interphase polytene chromosomes appears as alternating decondensed interbands and dense black or thin gray bands. Recently, we uncovered four principle chromatin states (4НММ model) in the fruit fly, and these were matched to the structures observed in polytene chromosomes. Ruby/malachite chromatin states form black bands containing developmental genes, whereas aquamarine chromatin corresponds to interbands enriched with 5' regions of ubiquitously expressed genes. Lazurite chromatin supposedly forms faint gray bands and encompasses the bodies of housekeeping genes. In this report, we test this idea using the X chromosome as the model and MSL1 as a protein marker of the lazurite chromatin. Our bioinformatic analysis indicates that in the X chromosome, it is only the lazurite chromatin that is simultaneously enriched for the proteins and histone marks associated with exons, transcription elongation, and dosage compensation. As a result of FISH and EM mapping of a dosage compensation complex subunit, MSL1, we for the first time provide direct evidence that lazurite chromatin forms faint gray bands. Our analysis proves that overall most of housekeeping genes typically span from the interbands (5' region of the gene) to the gray band (gene body). More rarely, active lazurite chromatin and inactive malachite/ruby chromatin may be found within a common band, where both the housekeeping and the developmental genes reside together.

The Integrator Complex Attenuates Promoter-Proximal Transcription at Protein-Coding Genes

The transition of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) from initiation to productive elongation is a central, regulated step in metazoan gene expression. At many genes, Pol II pauses stably in early elongation, remaining engaged with the 25- to 60-nt-long nascent RNA for many minutes while awaiting signals for release into the gene body. However, 15%-20% of genes display highly unstable promoter Pol II, suggesting that paused polymerase might dissociate from template DNA at these promoters and release a short, non-productive mRNA. Here, we report that paused Pol II can be actively destabilized by the Integrator complex. Specifically, we present evidence that Integrator utilizes its RNA endonuclease activity to cleave nascent RNA and drive termination of paused Pol II. These findings uncover a previously unappreciated mechanism of metazoan gene repression, akin to bacterial transcription attenuation, wherein promoter-proximal Pol II is prevented from entering productive elongation through factor-regulated termination.

Nascent RNA analyses: tracking transcription and its regulation

The programmes that direct an organism's development and maintenance are encoded in its genome. Decoding of this information begins with regulated transcription of genomic DNA into RNA. Although transcription and its control can be tracked indirectly by measuring stable RNAs, it is only by directly measuring nascent RNAs that the immediate regulatory changes in response to developmental, environmental, disease and metabolic signals are revealed. Multiple complementary methods have been developed to quantitatively track nascent transcription genome-wide at nucleotide resolution, all of which have contributed novel insights into the mechanisms of gene regulation and transcription-coupled RNA processing. Here we critically evaluate the array of strategies used for investigating nascent transcription and discuss the recent conceptual advances they have provided.

Identification and dynamic quantification of regulatory elements using total RNA

The spatial and temporal regulation of transcription initiation is pivotal for controlling gene expression. Here, we introduce capped-small RNA-seq (csRNA-seq), which uses total RNA as starting material to detect transcription start sites (TSSs) of both stable and unstable RNAs at single-nucleotide resolution. csRNA-seq is highly sensitive to acute changes in transcription and identifies an order of magnitude more regulated transcripts than does RNA-seq. Interrogating tissues from species across the eukaryotic kingdoms identified unstable transcripts resembling enhancer RNAs, pri-miRNAs, antisense transcripts, and promoter upstream transcripts in multicellular animals, plants, and fungi spanning 1.6 billion years of evolution. Integration of epigenomic data from these organisms revealed that histone H3 trimethylation (H3K4me3) was largely confined to TSSs of stable transcripts, whereas H3K27ac marked nucleosomes downstream from all active TSSs, suggesting an ancient role for posttranslational histone modifications in transcription. Our findings show that total RNA is sufficient to identify transcribed regulatory elements and capture the dynamics of initiated stable and unstable transcripts at single-nucleotide resolution in eukaryotes.

FFPEcap-seq: a method for sequencing capped RNAs in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples

The majority of clinical cancer specimens are preserved as formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. For clinical molecular tests to have wide-reaching impact, they must be applicable to FFPE material. Accurate quantitative measurements of RNA derived from FFPE specimens is challenging because of low yields and high amounts of degradation. Here, we present FFPEcap-seq, a method specifically designed for sequencing capped 5′ ends of RNA derived from FFPE samples. FFPEcap-seq combines enzymatic enrichment of 5′ capped RNAs with template switching to create sequencing libraries. We find that FFPEcap-seq can faithfully capture mRNA expression levels in FFPE specimens while also detecting enhancer RNAs that arise from distal regulatory regions. FFPEcap-seq is a fast and straightforward method for making high-quality 5′ end RNA-seq libraries from FFPE-derived RNA.

The RNA Polymerase II Core Promoter in Drosophila

Transcription by RNA polymerase II initiates at the core promoter, which is sometimes referred to as the "gateway to transcription." Here, we describe the properties of the RNA polymerase II core promoter in Drosophila The core promoter is at a strategic position in the expression of genes, as it is the site of convergence of the signals that lead to transcriptional activation. Importantly, core promoters are diverse in terms of their structure and function. They are composed of various combinations of sequence motifs such as the TATA box, initiator (Inr), and downstream core promoter element (DPE). Different types of core promoters are transcribed via distinct mechanisms. Moreover, some transcriptional enhancers exhibit specificity for particular types of core promoters. These findings indicate that the core promoter is a central component of the transcriptional apparatus that regulates gene expression.

A 50 year history of technologies that drove discovery in eukaryotic transcription regulation

Transcription regulation is critical to organism development and homeostasis. Control of expression of the 20,000 genes in human cells requires many hundreds of proteins acting through sophisticated multistep mechanisms. In this Historical Perspective, I highlight the progress that has been made in elucidating eukaryotic transcriptional mechanisms through an array of disciplines and approaches, and how this concerted effort has been driven by the development of new technologies.

The Histone Deacetylase SIRT6 Restrains Transcription Elongation via Promoter-Proximal Pausing

Transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes occurs at promoter-proximal regions wherein transcriptionally engaged RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pauses before proceeding toward productive elongation. The role of chromatin in pausing remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the histone deacetylase SIRT6 binds to Pol II and prevents the release of the negative elongation factor (NELF), thus stabilizing Pol II promoter-proximal pausing. Genetic depletion of SIRT6 or its chromatin deficiency upon glucose deprivation causes intragenic enrichment of acetylated histone H3 at lysines 9 (H3K9ac) and 56 (H3K56ac), activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9)-that phosphorylates NELF and the carboxyl terminal domain of Pol II-and enrichment of the positive transcription elongation factors MYC, BRD4, PAF1, and the super elongation factors AFF4 and ELL2. These events lead to increased expression of genes involved in metabolism, protein synthesis, and embryonic development. Our results identified SIRT6 as a Pol II promoter-proximal pausing-dedicated histone deacetylase.

The hunt for RNA polymerase II elongation factors: a historical perspective

The discovery of the three eukaryotic nuclear RNA polymerases paved the way for serious biochemical investigations of eukaryotic transcription and the identification of eukaryotic transcription factors. Here we describe this adventure from our vantage point, with a focus on the hunt for factors that regulate elongation by RNA polymerase II.

Interpreting and integrating big data in non-coding RNA research

In the last two decades, we have witnessed an impressive crescendo of non-coding RNA studies, due to both the development of high-throughput RNA-sequencing strategies and an ever-increasing awareness of the involvement of newly discovered ncRNA classes in complex regulatory networks. Together with excitement for the possibility to explore previously unknown layers of gene regulation, these advancements led to the realization of the need for shared criteria of data collection and analysis and for novel integrative perspectives and tools aimed at making biological sense of very large bodies of molecular information. In the last few years, efforts to respond to this need have been devoted mainly to the regulatory interactions involving ncRNAs as direct or indirect regulators of protein-coding mRNAs. Such efforts resulted in the development of new computational tools, allowing the exploitation of the information spread in numerous different ncRNA data sets to interpret transcriptome changes under physiological and pathological cell responses. While experimental validation remains essential to identify key RNA regulatory interactions, the integration of ncRNA big data, in combination with systematic literature mining, is proving to be invaluable in identifying potential new players, biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer and other diseases.

The pause-initiation limit restricts transcription activation in human cells

Eukaryotic gene transcription is often controlled at the level of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pausing in the promoter-proximal region. Pausing Pol II limits the frequency of transcription initiation ('pause-initiation limit'), predicting that the pause duration must be decreased for transcriptional activation. To test this prediction, we conduct a genome-wide kinetic analysis of the heat shock response in human cells. We show that the pause-initiation limit restricts transcriptional activation at most genes. Gene activation generally requires the activity of the P-TEFb kinase CDK9, which decreases the duration of Pol II pausing and thereby enables an increase in the productive initiation frequency. The transcription of enhancer elements is generally not pause limited and can be activated without CDK9 activity. Our results define the kinetics of Pol II transcriptional regulation in human cells at all gene classes during a natural transcription response.

Transcriptional Control by Premature Termination: A Forgotten Mechanism

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.

Transcription start site analysis reveals widespread divergent transcription in D. melanogaster and core promoter-encoded enhancer activities

Mammalian gene promoters and enhancers share many properties. They are composed of a unified promoter architecture of divergent transcripton initiation and gene promoters may exhibit enhancer function. However, it is currently unclear how expression strength of a regulatory element relates to its enhancer strength and if the unifying architecture is conserved across Metazoa. Here we investigate the transcription initiation landscape and its associated RNA decay in Drosophila melanogaster. We find that the majority of active gene-distal enhancers and a considerable fraction of gene promoters are divergently transcribed. We observe quantitative relationships between enhancer potential, expression level and core promoter strength, providing an explanation for indirectly related histone modifications that are reflecting expression levels. Lowly abundant unstable RNAs initiated from weak core promoters are key characteristics of gene-distal developmental enhancers, while the housekeeping enhancer strengths of gene promoters reflect their expression strengths. The seemingly separable layer of regulation by gene promoters with housekeeping enhancer potential is also indicated by chromatin interaction data. Our results suggest a unified promoter architecture of many D. melanogaster regulatory elements, that is universal across Metazoa, whose regulatory functions seem to be related to their core promoter elements.

Structural Basis of Transcription: RNA Polymerase Backtracking and Its Reactivation

Regulatory sequences or erroneous incorporations during DNA transcription cause RNA polymerase backtracking and inactivation in all kingdoms of life. Reactivation requires RNA transcript cleavage. Essential transcription factors (GreA and GreB, or TFIIS) accelerate this reaction. We report four cryo-EM reconstructions of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase representing the entire reaction pathway: (1) a backtracked complex; a backtracked complex with GreB (2) before and (3) after RNA cleavage; and (4) a reactivated, substrate-bound complex with GreB before RNA extension. Compared with eukaryotes, the backtracked RNA adopts a different conformation. RNA polymerase conformational changes cause distinct GreB states: a fully engaged GreB before cleavage; a disengaged GreB after cleavage; and a dislodged, loosely bound GreB removed from the active site to allow RNA extension. These reconstructions provide insight into the catalytic mechanism and dynamics of RNA cleavage and extension and suggest how GreB targets backtracked complexes without interfering with canonical transcription.

NF-Y controls fidelity of transcription initiation at gene promoters through maintenance of the nucleosome-depleted region

Faithful transcription initiation is critical for accurate gene expression, yet the mechanisms underlying specific transcription start site (TSS) selection in mammals remain unclear. Here, we show that the histone-fold domain protein NF-Y, a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor, controls the fidelity of transcription initiation at gene promoters in mouse embryonic stem cells. We report that NF-Y maintains the region upstream of TSSs in a nucleosome-depleted state while simultaneously protecting this accessible region against aberrant and/or ectopic transcription initiation. We find that loss of NF-Y binding in mammalian cells disrupts the promoter chromatin landscape, leading to nucleosomal encroachment over the canonical TSS. Importantly, this chromatin rearrangement is accompanied by upstream relocation of the transcription pre-initiation complex and ectopic transcription initiation. Further, this phenomenon generates aberrant extended transcripts that undergo translation, disrupting gene expression profiles. These results suggest NF-Y is a central player in TSS selection in metazoans and highlight the deleterious consequences of inaccurate transcription initiation.

The mechanisms underlying specific TSS selection in mammals remain unclear. Here the authors show that the ubiquitously expressed transcription factor NF-Y regulate fidelity of transcription initiation at gene promoters, maintaining the region upstream of TSSs in a nucleosome-depleted state, while protecting this region from ectopic transcription initiation.

Transcription fidelity: New paradigms in epigenetic inheritance, genome instability and disease

RNA transcription errors are transient, yet frequent, events that do have consequences for the cell. However, until recently we lacked the tools to empirically measure and study these errors. Advances in RNA library preparation and next generation sequencing (NGS) have allowed the spectrum of transcription errors to be empirically measured over the entire transcriptome and in nascent transcripts. Combining these powerful methods with forward and reverse genetic strategies has refined our understanding of transcription factors known to enhance RNA accuracy and will enable the discovery of new candidates. Furthermore, these approaches will shed additional light on the complex interplay between transcription fidelity and other DNA transactions, such as replication and repair, and explore a role for transcription errors in cellular evolution and disease.

Computational Biology Solutions to Identify Enhancers-target Gene Pairs

Enhancers are non-coding regulatory elements that are distant from their target gene. Their characterization still remains elusive especially due to challenges in achieving a comprehensive pairing of enhancers and target genes. A number of computational biology solutions have been proposed to address this problem leveraging the increasing availability of functional genomics data and the improved mechanistic understanding of enhancer action. In this review we focus on computational methods for genome-wide definition of enhancer-target gene pairs. We outline the different classes of methods, as well as their main advantages and limitations. The types of information integrated by each method, along with details on their applicability are presented and discussed. We especially highlight the technical challenges that are still unresolved and hamper the effective achievement of a satisfactory and comprehensive solution. We expect this field will keep evolving in the coming years due to the ever-growing availability of data and increasing insights into enhancers crucial role in regulating genome functionality.

Architecture of Promoters of House-Keeping Genes in Polytene Chromosome Interbands of Drosophila melanogaster

This is the first study to investigate the molecular-genetic organization of polytene chromosome interbands located on both molecular and cytological maps of Drosophila genome. The majority of the studied interbands contained one gene with a single transcription initiation site; the remaining interbands contained one gene with several alternative promoters, two or more unidirectional genes, and "head-to-head" arranged genes. In addition, intricately arranged interbands containing three or more genes in both unidirectional and bidirectional orientation were found. Insulator proteins, ORC, P-insertions, DNase I hypersensitive sites, and other open chromatin structures were situated in the promoter region of the genes located in the interbands. This area is critical for the formation of the interband, an open chromatin region in which gene transcription and replication are combined.

Genome-wide RNA pol II initiation and pausing in neural progenitors of the rat

Background

Global RNA sequencing technologies have revealed widespread RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription outside of gene promoters. Small 5′-capped RNA sequencing (Start-seq) originally developed for the detection of promoter-proximal Pol II pausing has helped improve annotation of Transcription Start Sites (TSSs) of genes as well as identification of non-genic regulatory elements. However, apart from the most well studied genomes of human and mouse, mammalian transcription has not been profiled with sufficiently high precision.

Results

We prepared and sequenced Start-seq libraries from rat (Rattus norgevicus) primary neural progenitor cells. Over 48 million uniquely mappable reads from two independent biological replicates allowed us to define the TSSs of 7365 known genes in the rn6 genome, reannotating 2503 TSSs by more than 5 base pairs, characterize promoter-associated antisense transcription, and profile Pol II pausing. By combining TSS data with polyA-selected RNA sequencing, we also identified thousands of potential new genes producing stable RNA as well as non-genic transcripts representing possible regulatory elements.

Conclusions

Our study has produced the first Start-seq dataset for the rat. Apart from profiling transcription initiation, our data reaffirm the prevalence of Pol II pausing across the rat genome and indicate conservation of pausing mechanisms across metazoan genomes. We suggest that pausing location, at least in mammals, is constrained by a distance from initiation of transcription, whether it occurs at or outside of a gene promoter. Abundant antisense transcription initiation around protein coding genes indicates that Pol II recruited to the vicinity of a promoter is distributed to available start sites of transcription at either DNA strand. Transcriptome profiling of neural progenitors presented here will facilitate further studies of other rat cell types as well as other organisms.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5829-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Transcribe this way: Rap1 confers promoter directionality by repressing divergent transcription

In eukaryotes, divergent transcription is a major source of noncoding RNAs. Recent studies have uncovered that in yeast, the transcription factor Rap1 restricts transcription in the divergent direction and thereby controls promoter directionality. Here, we summarize these findings, propose regulatory principles, and discuss the implications for eukaryotic gene regulation.

Perspective on Alternative Splicing and Proteome Complexity in Plants

Alternative splicing (AS) generates multiple transcripts from the same gene, however, AS contribution to proteome complexity remains elusive in plants. AS is prevalent under stress conditions in plants, but it is counterintuitive why plants would invest in protein synthesis under declining energy supply. We propose that plants employ AS not only to potentially increasing proteomic complexity, but also to buffer against the stress-responsive transcriptome to reduce the metabolic cost of translating all AS transcripts. To maximise efficiency under stress, plants may make fewer proteins with disordered domains via AS to diversify substrate specificity and maintain sufficient regulatory capacity. Furthermore, we suggest that chromatin state-dependent AS engenders short/long-term stress memory to mediate reproducible transcriptional response in the future.

Promoter-proximal pausing of RNA polymerase II: a nexus of gene regulation

In this review, Core et al. discuss the recent advances in our understanding of the early steps in Pol II transcription, highlighting the events and factors involved in the establishment and release of paused Pol II. They also discuss a number of unanswered questions about the regulation and function of Pol II pausing.

Precise spatio–temporal control of gene activity is essential for organismal development, growth, and survival in a changing environment. Decisive steps in gene regulation involve the pausing of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) in early elongation, and the controlled release of paused polymerase into productive RNA synthesis. Here we describe the factors that enable pausing and the events that trigger Pol II release into the gene. We also discuss open questions in the field concerning the stability of paused Pol II, nucleosomes as obstacles to elongation, and potential roles of pausing in defining the precision and dynamics of gene expression.

Reporter-ChIP-nexus reveals strong contribution of the Drosophila initiator sequence to RNA polymerase pausing

RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pausing is a general regulatory step in transcription, yet the stability of paused Pol II varies widely between genes. Although paused Pol II stability correlates with core promoter elements, the contribution of individual sequences remains unclear, in part because no rapid assay is available for measuring the changes in Pol II pausing as a result of altered promoter sequences. Here, we overcome this hurdle by showing that ChIP-nexus captures the endogenous Pol II pausing on transfected plasmids. Using this reporter-ChIP-nexus assay in Drosophila cells, we show that the pausing stability is influenced by downstream promoter sequences, but that the strongest contribution to Pol II pausing comes from the initiator sequence, in which a single nucleotide, a G at the +2 position, is critical for stable Pol II pausing. These results establish reporter-ChIP-nexus as a valuable tool to analyze Pol II pausing.

P-TEFb Regulates Transcriptional Activation in Non-coding RNA Genes

Many non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) serve as regulatory molecules in various physiological pathways, including gene expression in mammalian cells. Distinct from protein-coding RNA expression, ncRNA expression is regulated solely by transcription and RNA processing/stability. It is thus important to understand transcriptional regulation in ncRNA genes but is yet to be known completely. Previously, we identified that a subset of mammalian ncRNA genes is transcriptionally regulated by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) promoter-proximal pausing and in a tissue-specific manner. In this study, human ncRNA genes that are expressed in the early G₁ phase, termed immediate early ncRNA genes, were monitored to assess the function of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), a master Pol II pausing regulator for protein-coding genes, in ncRNA transcription. Our findings indicate that the expression of many ncRNA genes is induced in the G₀–G₁ transition and regulated by P-TEFb. Interestingly, a biphasic characteristic of P-TEFb-dependent transcription of serum responsive ncRNA genes was observed: Pol II carboxyl-terminal domain phosphorylated at serine 2 (S2) was largely increased in the transcription start site (TSS, -300 to +300) whereas overall, it was decreased in the gene body (GB, > +350) upon chemical inhibition of P-TEFb. In addition, the three representative, immediate early ncRNAs, whose expression is dependent on P-TEFb, metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1), and X-inactive specific transcript (XIST), were further analyzed for determining P-TEFb association. Taken together, our data suggest that transcriptional activation of many human ncRNAs utilizes the pausing and releasing of Pol II, and that the regulatory mechanism of transcriptional elongation in these genes requires the function of P-TEFb. Furthermore, we propose that ncRNA and mRNA transcription are regulated by similar mechanisms while P-TEFb inhibition unexpectedly increases S2 Pol II phosphorylation in the TSSs in many ncRNA genes.

One Sentence Summary: P-TEFb regulates Pol II phosphorylation for transcriptional activation in many stimulus-inducible ncRNA genes.

Antisense lncRNA Transcription Mediates DNA Demethylation to Drive Stochastic Protocadherin α Promoter Choice

Stochastic activation of clustered Protocadherin (Pcdh) α, β, and γ genes generates a cell-surface identity code in individual neurons that functions in neural circuit assembly. Here, we show that Pcdhα gene choice involves the activation of an antisense promoter located in the first exon of each Pcdhα alternate gene. Transcription of an antisense long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) from this antisense promoter extends through the sense promoter, leading to DNA demethylation of the CTCF binding sites proximal to each promoter. Demethylation-dependent CTCF binding to both promoters facilitates cohesin-mediated DNA looping with a distal enhancer (HS5-1), locking in the transcriptional state of the chosen Pcdhα gene. Uncoupling DNA demethylation from antisense transcription by Tet3 overexpression in mouse olfactory neurons promotes CTCF binding to all Pcdhα promoters, resulting in proximity-biased DNA looping of the HS5-1 enhancer. Thus, antisense transcription-mediated promoter demethylation functions as a mechanism for distance-independent enhancer/promoter DNA looping to ensure stochastic Pcdhα promoter choice.

Polytene chromosomes reflect functional organization of the Drosophila genome

Polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster are a convenient model for studying interphase chromosomes of eukaryotes. They are giant in size in comparison with diploid cell chromosomes and have a pattern of cross stripes resulting from the ordered chromatid arrangement. Each region of polytene chromosomes has a unique banding pattern. Using the model of four chromatin types that reveals domains of varying compaction degrees, we were able to correlate the physical and cytological maps of some polytene chromosome regions and to show the main properties of genetic and molecular organization of bands and interbands, that we describe in this review. On the molecular map of the genome, the interbands correspond to decompacted aquamarine chromatin and 5’ ends of ubiquitously active genes. Gray bands contain lazurite and malachite chromatin, intermediate in the level of compaction, and, mainly, coding parts of genes. Dense black transcriptionally inactive bands are enriched in ruby chromatin. Localization of several dozens of interbands on the genome molecular map allowed us to study in detail their architecture according to the data of whole genome projects. The distribution of proteins and regulatory elements of the genome in the promoter regions of genes localized in the interbands shows that these parts of interbands are probably responsible for the formation of open chromatin that is visualized in polytene chromosomes as interbands. Thus, the permanent genetic activity of interbands and gray bands and the inactivity of genes in black bands are the basis of the universal banding pattern in the chromosomes of all Drosophila tissues. The smallest fourth chromosome of Drosophila with an atypical protein composition of chromatin is a special case.  Using the model of four chromatin states and fluorescent in situ hybridization, its cytological map was refined and the genomic coordinates of all bands and interbands were determined. It was shown that, in spite of the peculiarities of this chromosome, its band organization in general corresponds to the rest of the genome. Extremely long genes of different Drosophila chromosomes do not fit the common scheme, since they can occupy a series of alternating bands and interbands (up to nine chromosomal structures) formed by parts of these genes.

Writing a wrong: Coupled RNA polymerase II transcription and RNA quality control

Processing and maturation of precursor RNA species is coupled to RNA polymerase II transcription. Co-transcriptional RNA processing helps to ensure efficient and proper capping, splicing, and 3' end processing of different RNA species to help ensure quality control of the transcriptome. Many improperly processed transcripts are not exported from the nucleus, are restricted to the site of transcription, and are in some cases degraded, which helps to limit any possibility of aberrant RNA causing harm to cellular health. These critical quality control pathways are regulated by the highly dynamic protein-protein interaction network at the site of transcription. Recent work has further revealed the extent to which the processes of transcription and RNA processing and quality control are integrated, and how critically their coupling relies upon the dynamic protein interactions that take place co-transcriptionally. This review focuses specifically on the intricate balance between 3' end processing and RNA decay during transcription termination. This article is categorized under: RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Turnover/Surveillance Mechanisms RNA Processing > 3' End Processing RNA Processing > Splicing Mechanisms RNA Processing > Capping and 5' End Modifications.

Comparative Epigenomics Reveals that RNA Polymerase II Pausing and Chromatin Domain Organization Control Nematode piRNA Biogenesis

Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are important for genome regulation across metazoans, but their biogenesis evolves rapidly. In Caenorhabditis elegans, piRNA loci are clustered within two 3-Mb regions on chromosome IV. Each piRNA locus possesses an upstream motif that recruits RNA polymerase II to produce an ∼28 nt primary transcript. We used comparative epigenomics across nematodes to gain insight into the origin, evolution, and mechanism of nematode piRNA biogenesis. We show that the piRNA upstream motif is derived from core promoter elements controlling snRNA transcription. We describe two alternative modes of piRNA organization in nematodes: in C. elegans and closely related nematodes, piRNAs are clustered within repressive H3K27me3 chromatin, while in other species, typified by Pristionchus pacificus, piRNAs are found within introns of active genes. Additionally, we discover that piRNA production depends on sequence signals associated with RNA polymerase II pausing. We show that pausing signals synergize with chromatin to control piRNA transcription.

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Nematode piRNA transcription evolved from small nuclear RNA biogenesis

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Clustered piRNAs are produced from regulated (H3K27me3) chromatin domains

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Dispersed piRNAs are produced from active (H3K36me3) chromatin domains

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RNA polymerase II pausing determines the short (∼28 nt) length of piRNA precursors

Exploiting regulatory heterogeneity to systematically identify enhancers with high accuracy

Identifying functional enhancer elements in metazoan systems is a major challenge. Large-scale validation of enhancers predicted by ENCODE reveal false-positive rates of at least 70%. We used the pregrastrula-patterning network of Drosophila melanogaster to demonstrate that loss in accuracy in held-out data results from heterogeneity of functional signatures in enhancer elements. We show that at least two classes of enhancers are active during early Drosophila embryogenesis and that by focusing on a single, relatively homogeneous class of elements, greater than 98% prediction accuracy can be achieved in a balanced, completely held-out test set. The class of well-predicted elements is composed predominantly of enhancers driving multistage segmentation patterns, which we designate segmentation driving enhancers (SDE). Prediction is driven by the DNA occupancy of early developmental transcription factors, with almost no additional power derived from histone modifications. We further show that improved accuracy is not a property of a particular prediction method: after conditioning on the SDE set, naïve Bayes and logistic regression perform as well as more sophisticated tools. Applying this method to a genome-wide scan, we predict 1,640 SDEs that cover 1.6% of the genome. An analysis of 32 SDEs using whole-mount embryonic imaging of stably integrated reporter constructs chosen throughout our prediction rank-list showed >90% drove expression patterns. We achieved 86.7% precision on a genome-wide scan, with an estimated recall of at least 98%, indicating high accuracy and completeness in annotating this class of functional elements.