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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Sep 16.
Published in final edited form as: Mol Cell. 2011 Sep 16;43(6):853–866. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2011.08.017

Figure 4. Mechanisms regulating APA.

Figure 4

The choice of using one poly(A) site over another is dictated by a combination of several features. (A) Variations in the abundance or activity of trans-acting factors such as core 3’ processing proteins and tissue-specific RNA-binding proteins, as well as through interaction with splicing and transcription factors. (B) Combinations of cis-acting RNA elements, such as the strength of binding sites for core 3’ processing factors, auxiliary sequences and/or new motifs directing the interaction of protein components with the mRNA, and perhaps RNA secondary structures. (C) APA is likely also influenced by chromatin, including nucleosome positioning around the poly(A) site, DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications.