Recent developments in the field of gene
transcription regulation have unfolded a key role for
actin as an important co-factor for all three eukaryotic
RNA polymerases. In this review article we discuss the
latest findings on actin in transcription of protein-coding
and ribosomal genes, in complex with specific hnRNP
proteins and a form of myosin 1ß which is entirely
localized to the cell nucleus. Based on these recent
studies, we propose a general model where actin may
function in basal gene transcription as an allosteric
regulator, to recruit transcriptional co-activators on
active genes. A future challenge will be the
identification of the polymerization state of actin in gene
transcription and how it is mechanistically regulated