Kornberg’s research has led to a much more detailed understanding of eukaryotic transcription.  One area this research is expected to contribute to is the study of stem cells.  The development of pluripotent stem cells into specialized cells requires the transcription of certain specific sets of genes.  Deeper understanding of transcriptional activation and initiation could lead to a more complete picture of how genes in stem cells are activated to begin differentiation.  Zhang, et al, provides one example of the necessary transcriptional control in stem cell development.  The work describes the transcriptional control of a Pou5f1 gene, which is an important gene in maintaining pluripotent stem cells.  Loss of this gene product leads to differentiation of the stem cells.  There are several identified factors that bind to the promoter and enhancers for this gene, all of which affect its transcription (Zhang, et al, 2006).  The description of the interaction of enhancers and promoters with RNA polymerase will help with the research into the transcriptional activation of important stem cell genes.

Another important area of research that Kornberg’s description of transcription will undoubtedly advance is the area of cancer research.  Cancerous cells undergo rapid, uncontrolled division that involves the activation of a number of genes and the repression of other genes.  This requires interactions of gene enhancers and promoters with transcription factors and mediators.  Research into how this process occurs is currently underway, and the details of eukaryotic transcription activation and initiation will help in this area.  One cancer research group that has cited Kornberg’s work is Zhu, et al.  This group has described transcription of tumor suppressor genes and the binding of certain transcription factors to enhancers near the start site (Zhu, et al, 2006).  The gene of interest in this study was a hepatocellular carcinoma suppressor gene that inhibits cellular proliferation.  The data provided by Kornberg regarding the interactions of DNA and protein and the upstream signals that lead to transcriptional activation were crucial to the research done by this group.  There are countless genes that are associated with cancer, either by suppressing tumors or by causing their proliferation.  Analysis of how the transcription of these genes is activated will lead to a better understanding of the disease itself.