RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and the Mediator complex are major constituents of liquid-like transcription-dependent condensates. Such transcriptional condensates can be found near genes that are controlled by enhancer clusters, also known as super-enhancers, but their function in gene regulation remains unclear. A study by Du at al. visualizes how enhancer–condensate–gene interactions affect gene expression.

De novo Sox2 bursting was also observed, during which imaging intensity of Pol II (but not of Mediator) increased, suggesting that gene expression levels change upon condensate kissing, as does condensate composition through recruitment of more Pol II.