Roger Kornberg Lab

Our research is directed towards the mechanism and regulation of RNA polymerase II transcription. Transcription is the first step and the key control point in the pathway of gene expression. Transcriptional regulation underlies development, oncogenesis, and other fundamental processes.

In eukaryotes the enzyme RNA Polymerase II is responsible for transcription of messenger RNA making pol’s regulation central to gene expression. We seek to reconstitute the entire process from promoter chromatin remodeling to transcript synthesis with pure proteins and nucleic acids, to solve the structures of the proteins, and to elucidate their functional interactions.