Figure 2.

Emerging paradigms for eRNA function. eRNAs have been implicated as critical components of active enhancers in several ways. (a). eRNAs can interact with chromatin looping factors to act as scaffolding for proper enhancer-promoter loop formation. (b). Binding to various transcription factors enables eRNAs to participate in TF trapping, RNA Pol II loading, and histone modification. (c). eRNAs can facilitate RNA Pol II pause release via activation of the P-TEFb complex. (d). eRNAs can also act as decoys to sequester cofactors that repress transcription at target genes.