JOIN US! CSB Cutting Lecture Series: Karen Adelman, PhD, Friday, January 30, 12:30 PM, Clark Auditorium!
The Department of Chemical and Systems Biology Presents
Cutting Lecture Series
Karen Adelman, PhD
Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Harvard Medical School
Friday, January 30, 2026
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (Pacific Time)
Clark Auditorium
Talk Title: “Gene control at coding and non-coding RNA loci”
Abstract: Regulation of gene expression in metazoans hinges on the precise control of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) as it transitions from initiation to productive elongation. A hallmark of this process is the widespread promoter-proximal pausing of RNAPII, where the polymerase remains engaged with a nascent RNA transcript while awaiting cues for release. Release from this pause is directly triggered by the kinase P-TEFb, which drives the recruitment of factors that enable productive elongation and ensure proper RNA processing. Alternatively, the paused RNAPII can be targeted for premature termination by the Integrator complex, resulting in release of the polymerase and a short, non-productive RNA, effectively short-circuiting gene expression. Here, I will present our recent findings that dissect the molecular determinants governing the choice between productive elongation and premature termination at gene promoters, focusing on the interplay between protein factors and DNA sequence elements. Using time-resolved nascent RNA assays, we directly capture the dynamics of RNAPII as it transitions between pausing and elongation, and to measure termination. I will also highlight how these mechanisms differ at non-coding RNA loci, which are often subject to early termination and rapid RNA decay. Together, these insights shed light on the fundamental strategies cells use to regulate gene expression, and the interplay between coding and non-coding RNA loci.