What is the function of B1/B2 RNAs inhibiting polymerase II in response to cellular heat shock?

Question

B2 and B1 SINEs inhibit the functionality of polymerase II in response to cellular heat shock. What is the physiological relevence of this? What does it achieve? How does inhibiting polymerase II help the cell survive?

Answer 1

Good question. The below article discusses this somewhat. But not the why. Essentially this shuts off transcription of mRNA, which is required for protein production. Why, i don't know. Find some literature reviews on heat shock in bacteria and see if its discussed. It should help the bacteria survive the excess heat, maybe it's a way of kinda 'rebooting', since existing proteins may be screwed up due to misfolding from the excess heat. Again i'm guessing, i don't really know.