|
|
|
|
|
Rna PolymeraseThe enzyme RNA polymerase or RNAP is a nucleotidyltransferase that polymerises ribonucleotides in accordance with the information present in DNA. RNA polymerase enzymes are essential and are found in all nucleated cells of all organisms. RNAP accomplishes de novo synthesis. It is able to do this because specific interactions with the initiating nucleotide hold RNAP rigidly in place, facilitating chemical attack on the incoming nucleotide. Such specific interactions explain why RNAP prefers to start transcripts with ATP (followed by GTP, UTP, and then CTP). In contrast to DNA polymerase, RNAP includes a helicase activity, therefore no separate enzyme is needed to unwind DNA. RNAP was discovered independently by Sam Weiss and Jerard Hurwitz in 1960. RNA polymerase in prokaryotes In prokaryotes, the same enzyme catalyzes the sythesis of all three types of RNA: mRNA, rRNA and tRNA. RNAP is a relatively large molecule. The 5 subunit core enzyme (~410 kDa) α2ββ'ω(with two identical α subunits) functions to bind DNA nonspecifically and catalyze the synthesis of RNA. In order to bind promoter-specific regions, the core enzyme requires a σ factor which greatly reduces affinity for nonspecific DNA while increasing specificity for promoters forming the 5 subunit holoenzyme α2ββ'σω (~480 kDa). The structure RNAP exhibits a groove with a length of 55 Å and a diameter of 25 Å. This groove fits well the 20 Å double strand of DNA. The 55 Å length can accept 16 nucleotides. RNA polymerase in eukaryotes Eukaryotes have several types of RNAP: Isolation RNA polymerase can be isolated in the following ways:
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|