Fig. 3.

NATs in transcriptional interference. In the initiation phase: a Promoter competition, the promoters of sense and antisense genes compete for RNAP complex; b Dislodgement, the RNAP complex of the sense gene promoter is dislodged by the arrival of the antisense gene RNAP complex; c Occlusion, the promoter of the sense gene is occluded by the antisense RNAP complex during antisense transcript elongation. In the elongation phase: d Collision, RNAP complexes collide in the overlapping region of the sense and antisense genes, blocking further transcriptions; e Roadblock, the antisense gene RNAP complex blocks that of the sense gene promoter. Ps, promoter of sense gene; Pa: promoter of antisense gene