Any process involved in the transition from the initiation to the elongation phases of transcription by RNA polymerase II, generally including a conformational change from the initiation conformation to the elongation conformation. Promoter clearance often involves breaking contact with transcription factors involved only in the initiation phase and making contacts with elongation specific factors.

Any process involved in the selection of the specific location within the template strand of an RNA polymerase II promoter for hybridization of the cognate ribonucleotides and formation of first phosphodiester bond within the nascent transcript.

Any process involved in the assembly of the RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex (PIC) at an RNA polymerase II promoter region of a DNA template, resulting in the subsequent synthesis of RNA from that promoter. The initiation phase includes PIC assembly and the formation of the first few bonds in the RNA chain, including abortive initiation, which occurs when the first few nucleotides are repeatedly synthesized and then released. Promoter clearance, or release, is the transition between the initiation and elongation phases of transcription.

The extension of an RNA molecule after transcription initiation and promoter clearance at an RNA polymerase II promoter by the addition of ribonucleotides catalyzed by RNA polymerase II.

The aggregation, arrangement and bonding together of proteins on an RNA polymerase II promoter DNA to form the transcriptional preinitiation complex (PIC), the formation of which is a prerequisite for transcription by RNA polymerase.

A general transcription initiation factor which in humans consists of a heterodimer of an alpha and a beta subunit. Helps recruit RNA polymerase II to the initiation complex and promotes translation elongation.