transcription of DNA

DNA, enzymes, and energy can make RNA {transcription, DNA}| {DNA transcription}.

process: strand separation

RNA polymerase binds to DNA double helix locations {promoter, DNA}. RNA polymerase separates DNA strands for one complete double-helix turn, little more than three nucleotides. RNA polymerase separates two deoxyribonucleotide chains by breaking hydrogen bonds, starting at one double-helix point and going in one direction only. Transcription uses DNA strand lying in third carbon to fifth carbon direction. Direction that chains separate is opposite to chain phosphodiester-bond direction.

process: polymerase

Eukaryotic 5.8S, 18S, and 28S rRNA use RNA polymerase I. Eukaryotic mRNA and snRNA use RNA polymerase II. Eukaryotic 5S rRNA and tRNA use RNA polymerase III. RNA types have different promoters. RNA polymerase does not need primer.

process: matching

Free ribonucleotides in solution hydrogen-bond to matching chain deoxyribonucleotides. Adenine and thymine hydrogen-bond. Adenine and uracil hydrogen-bond. Guanine and cytosine hydrogen-bond. Error rate is 10^-4 to 10^-5.

process: linking

Using phosphodiester bonds, RNA polymerase links ribonucleotides to make RNA sequence. Phosphodiester bonds invert compared to original-DNA-strand phosphodiester bonds. Nucleotides link at rate 50 nucleotides per second.

process: termination

RNA transcription terminates just after poly-uracil region, using RNA chain-terminating proteins. Using rho protein, region near tRNA end curves around to hydrogen bond with itself using paired A and U or C and G ribonucleotides to make a hairpin loop.

process: separation

RNA polymerase leaves DNA, and RNA separates from DNA. Double helix reforms.

product

Transcription makes one rRNA, tRNA, or mRNA strand. In higher animals, mRNA intron regions can make protein, and exons do not. Introns can be separate or overlap.

blocking

Actinomycin can block transcription by sliding between and separating guanines and cytosines. Mushroom poisons block RNA polymerase from making histone protein.

DNA

DNA operons have gene for repressor, promoter where RNA polymerase binds, operator where repressor can bind and inducer can remove repressor, and one or more genes, typically in that order. RNA or protein binding at regulatory regions controls RNA amount.

DNA: repressor

Repressor prevents RNA polymerase from binding at promoter, because operator is next to promoter. Bacteriophage lambda has repressor-gene {cro gene} repressor. Cro and other repressors typically are dimers that have alpha-helix binding in DNA-helix major groove. Repressors can affect several transcriptions {trans-acting control}.

DNA: promoter

Promoters affect downstream transcription {cis-acting control}. Catabolite activator protein binds to cAMP to make cAMP-CAP complexes, which bind to promoter for lactose and galactose breakdown genes. If glucose is low, cAMP builds up.

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Physical Sciences>Chemistry>Biochemistry>Nucleic Acid>Transcription

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Date Modified: 2022.0224