Based on the new experimental method auxin-inducible degradation performed in the Shilatifard Laboratory, the presence of a protein called SPT5 serves as a "passport", determining if RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is allowed to proceed down the length of DNA (shown in step 6) or is instead degraded and destroyed (shown in steps 1-4). The new experimental method allows immediate observation of the effects of protein depletion allowing them to discover this crucial checkpoint before elongation starts. Proving that RPB1 (RNAP's largest subunit) degradation occurs during early elongation (shown in step 5) allows better understanding of how this elongation checkpoint functions. 2D illustrations are used to supplement and provide background information in a simple manner for steps 3 and 5. Understanding this pathway could provide mechanistic insight into the cellular function of SPT5 in safeguarding accurate gene expression and how mis regulation of its function could lead to diverse human diseases including cancer.

Purpose
This visualization aims to communicate the importance and complexity of the protein SPT5 in safeguarding accurate gene expression and how mis-regulation of its function could lead to diverse human diseases including cancer. It aids in general understanding of the recent publication in Molecular Cell from the Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics. It describes how the loss of SPT5 from RNA polymerase ii, results in the degradation of the largest subunit RPB1. These findings provide insight into productive elongation and how the misregulation of SPT5 is associated with human diseases. By creating a 3D poster for this process, scientists can quickly understand a summary of Dr. Yuki Aoiâ's recent publication in a dynamic way.

Technique
Image created using VMD (Visual Molecular Dynamics; Humphrey et al., J. Molec. Graphics, 14:33-38, 1996), Autodesk 3dsMax, Adobe