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Two recent studies in Molecular Cell 1 and Nature 2 show that evicted RNA polymerases reassociate rapidly with post-replicative chromatin and proceed into an unusual transcription cycle, bypassing regular controls and creating a temporary window for altered gene expression., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Transcription–replication conflicts occur when the two critical cellular machineries responsible for gene expression and genome duplication collide with each other on the same genomic location. Although both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have evolved multiple mechanisms to coordinate these processes on individual chromosomes, it is now clear that conflicts can arise due to aberrant transcription regulation and premature proliferation, leading to DNA replication stress and genomic instability. As both are considered hallmarks of aging and human diseases such as cancer, understanding the cellular consequences of conflicts is of paramount importance. In this article, we summarize our current knowledge on where and when collisions occur and how these encounters affect the genome and chromatin landscape of cells. Finally, we conclude with the different cellular pathways and multiple mechanisms that cells have put in place at conflict sites to ensure the resolution of conflicts and accurate genome duplication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]