Fig. 2

(A) Schematic representation of BRD4 and CDK7 acting on SE regions to promote the transcription of SE-lncRNAs. Super enhancers (SEs) consist of clusters of enhancers and harbor an unusually high density of transcription factors, mediator coactivators and epigenetic modifications. BRD4 recruits the mediator coactivators promoting the assembly of transcription factors, that forms a bridge between SE and Promoter, favoring and stabilizing the binding of RNA-PolII to promote the transcription of SE-lncRNAs. CDK7 dependent phosphorylation of RNA Pol II-carboxy terminal domain (CTD) on Ser-5 and Ser-7 facilitates transcription initiation. (B) The effect of inhibitors of BRD4 and CDK7 on oncogenes and SE-lnRNAs transcription. BET inhibitors compete with acetylated residues for releasing BRD4 from chromatin and disassembling the interaction between SE and Promoter, while CDK7 inhibitors reduce the phosphorylation of RNA Pol II, decreasing RNA-Pol II throughput and blocking transcription of SE-lncRNAs