eRNAs Lure NELF from Paused Polymerases

RNAs transcribed from enhancers (eRNAs) have been linked to enhancer function. In this issue of Molecular Cell, Schaukowitch et al. (2014) show that upon activation, eRNAs can bind NELF and are necessary for its transient removal from promoters to release paused RNA polymerase II and drive expression of immediate-early genes in neurons.