Cell-cycle dynamics of nascent transcription and mature RNA accumulation are concordant in normal fibroblasts [RNA-seq]

Dynamic changes of gene expression is fundamental to cell cycle control. A prevailing hypothesis states that cell-cycle gene expression dynamics is driven by a widespread transcription-to-maturation lag, in which nascent transcription occurs in a cell-cycle phase preceding the phase with mature RNA accumulation, based on a study in cancer cells. Here, we test this paradigm in non-transformed human fibroblasts. We define mature RNAs and nascent transcription during the cell cycle using FUCCI reporters. The two dynamics are strongly concordant without a lag. Our data suggest a widespread transcription-to-maturation lag may be a feature of some cancer cells, but not of normal cells.