A dual-module ECAS complex couples transcription elongation and RNA processing.

A dual-module ECAS complex links transcription elongation and RNA processing, with AQR perturbation impairing gene elongation and leukemia progression in human and mouse cells.

• Why it matters: Understanding how transcription and RNA processing are coordinated is crucial for insights into gene regulation and disease mechanisms, especially in leukemia.
• What they did: Using native chromatin proteomics, the study identified ECAS, a bipartite assembly distinct from known complexes, and examined its role through perturbation of AQR in human cells and mouse leukemia models.
• The result: Disrupting ECAS impairs gene elongation, increases intron retention, and hampers leukemia initiation and maintenance, highlighting ECAS as a key factor in transcription-RNA processing coupling and leukemia biology.