Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40480971›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Cryo-EM uncovers a sequential mechanism for RNA polymerase I pausing and stalling at abasic DNA lesions.

Alicia Santos-Aledo, Adrián Plaza-Pegueroles, Marta Sanz-Murillo, Federico M Ruiz, Peini Hou, Jun Xu, David Gil-Carton, Dong Wang, Carlos Fernández-Tornero

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Alicia Santos-Aledo *Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB), CSIC, Madrid, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0026-8408
Adrián Plaza-Pegueroles *Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB), CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
Marta Sanz-Murillo *Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB), CSIC, Madrid, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6175-9315
Federico M RuizCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB), CSIC, Madrid, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0385-7777
Peini HouSkaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5214-8029
Jun XuSkaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-1360-2778
David Gil-CartonBasque Resource for Electron Microscopy, Leioa, Spain.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4241-1302
Dong WangSkaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA. dow003@health.ucsd.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2829-1546
Carlos Fernández-TorneroCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB), CSIC, Madrid, Spain. cftornero@cib.csic.es.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5097-731X

Funding

Molecular Mechanisms for DNA Damage Processing by Transcription MachineryR01GM102362 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI WANG, DONG · 2013 to 2025
$5.6M
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) R01GM102362
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

During synthesis of the ribosomal RNA precursor, RNA polymerase I (Pol I) monitors DNA integrity but its response to DNA damage remains poorly studied. Abasic sites are among the most prevalent DNA lesions in eukaryotic cells, and their detection is critical for cell survival. We report cryo-EM structures of Pol I in different stages of stalling at abasic sites, supported by in vitro transcription studies. Slow nucleotide addition opposite abasic sites occurs through base sandwiching between the RNA 3'-end and the Pol I bridge helix. Templating abasic sites can also cause Pol I cleft opening, which enables the A12 subunit to access the active center. Nucleotide addition opposite the lesion induces a translocation intermediate where DNA bases tilt to form hydrogen bonds with the new RNA base. These findings reveal unique mechanisms of Pol I stalling at abasic sites, differing from arrest by bulky lesions or abasic site handling by RNA polymerase II.

Indexed as

DNADNA DamageRNA Polymerase ICryoelectron MicroscopyModels, MolecularSaccharomyces cerevisiaeTranscription, GeneticDNARNA Polymerase I

Identifiers

PMID40480971
PMCPMC12144180

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.