The transcription elongation factors NELF, DSIF and P‐TEFb control constitutive transcription in a gene‐specific manner

We examined whether transcription elongation factors control constitutive transcription of the histoneH 1 ( 0 ) and GAPDH genes. Chromatin immunoprecipitaion demonstrated positive transcription elongation factor b (P‐TEFb) and 5,6‐dichloro‐1‐β‐ d ‐ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) sensitivity‐inducing factor (DSIF) present together with RNA polymerase II (pol II) throughout the histoneH 1 ( 0 ) gene, whereas negative elongation factor (NELF) was confined to the 5′ region. Contrarily, DSIF, NELF and pol II were confined to the 5′ region on the GAPDH . Inhibition of those factors affected the constitutive transcription of the histoneH 1 ( 0 ) gene but not the GAPDH gene. Thus, NELF, DSIF and P‐TEFb control constitutive transcription in a gene‐specific manner.