Millisecond dynamics of RNA polymerase II translocation at atomic resolution.

ABSTRACT: Transcription is a central step in gene expression, in which the DNA template is processively read by RNA polymerase II (Pol II), synthesizing a complementary messenger RNA transcript. At each cycle, Pol II moves exactly one register along the DNA, a process known as translocation. Although X-ray crystal structures have greatly enhanced our understanding of the transcription process, the underlying molecular mechanisms of translocation remain unclear. Here we use sophisticated simulation techniques to observe Pol II translocation on a millisecond timescale and at atomistic resolution. We observe multiple cycles of forward and backward translocation and identify two previously unidentified intermediate states. We show that the bridge helix (BH) plays a key role accelerating the translocatio

SUBMITTER: Silva DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4040580 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature