Term Name: transcription pausing by RNA polymerase II
Synonyms: promoter proximal pausing by RNA polymerase II
Definition: A transcription halt following transcription initiation but prior to elongation, during which RNA polymerase II pauses approximately 20-60 nucleotides downstream of the transcriptional start site before proceeding into productive elongation. Transcription pausing starts following phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II subunit POLR2A at Ser-5 and stops following phosphorylation of POLR2A by the P-TEFb complex.
Ontology: GO: Biological Process [GO:0160239]    QuickGO    AmiGO

Relationships
is part of: transcription by RNA polymerase II
is a type of: RNA biosynthetic process