The Mechanisms of Substrate Selection, Catalysis, and Translocation by the Elongating RNA Polymerase.

ABSTRACT: Multi-subunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerases synthesize all classes of cellular RNAs, ranging from short regulatory transcripts to gigantic messenger RNAs. RNA polymerase has to make each RNA product in just one try, even if it takes millions of successive nucleotide addition steps. During each step, RNA polymerase selects a correct substrate, adds it to a growing chain, and moves one nucleotide forward before repeating the cycle. However, RNA synthesis is anything but monotonous: RNA polymerase frequently pauses upon encountering mechanical, chemical and torsional barriers, sometimes stepping back and cleaving off nucleotides from the growing RNA chain. A picture in which these intermittent dynamics enable processive, accurate, and controllable RNA synthesis is emerging from complementary

SUBMITTER: Belogurov GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6874739 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature