“…Actin was linked to RNA polymerase function already almost 40 years ago (Scheer et al, 1984). Since then, several studies have demonstrated defects in transcription upon actin manipulations, whether with antibodies against actin (Hofmann et al, 2004; Miyamoto et al, 2011; Philimonenko et al, 2004), by altering nucleo-cytoplasmic actin shuttling (Dopie et al, 2012; Knerr et al, 2023; Le et al, 2016; Sokolova et al, 2018; Wei et al, 2020), by actin mutants that are either predominantly monomeric or filamentous (Almuzzaini et al, 2016; Huang et al, 2022; Knerr et al, 2023; Qi et al, 2011; Serebryannyy et al, 2016; Wei et al, 2020; Ye et al, 2008) or by using different actin-binding drugs (McDonald et al, 2006; Miyamoto et al, 2011; Wu et al, 2006; Ye et al, 2008). Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms by which actin affects RNA polymerase function have remained rather unclear.…”