DNA-directed 5'-3' RNA polymerase activity

Definition

Target type: molecularfunction

Catalysis of the reaction: nucleoside triphosphate + RNA(n) = diphosphate + RNA(n+1). Utilizes a DNA template, i.e. the catalysis of DNA-template-directed extension of the 3'-end of an RNA strand by one nucleotide at a time. Can initiate a chain 'de novo'. [EC:2.7.7.6, GOC:pf]

DNA-directed 5'-3' RNA polymerase activity is a crucial process in gene expression, responsible for synthesizing RNA molecules using a DNA template. This activity is catalyzed by enzymes called RNA polymerases, which bind to specific DNA sequences known as promoters. Once bound, RNA polymerase unwinds the DNA double helix and uses one strand as a template to synthesize a complementary RNA strand. The newly synthesized RNA strand is elongated in the 5' to 3' direction, meaning that nucleotides are added to the 3' end of the growing RNA chain. The process involves the following steps:
1. Initiation: RNA polymerase binds to the promoter region of a gene, separating the DNA strands and initiating RNA synthesis.
2. Elongation: RNA polymerase moves along the DNA template, reading the sequence and adding complementary RNA nucleotides to the growing RNA chain.
3. Termination: RNA polymerase encounters a specific termination signal in the DNA sequence, signaling the end of RNA synthesis. The polymerase releases the newly synthesized RNA molecule and detaches from the DNA template.
The RNA molecule synthesized by DNA-directed 5'-3' RNA polymerase can be a messenger RNA (mRNA) that carries the genetic information from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis, a transfer RNA (tRNA) that carries amino acids to ribosomes during translation, or a ribosomal RNA (rRNA) that forms part of the ribosome structure.'
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Proteins (8)

Compounds (4)