The RNA polymerase is only using one strand of DNA as a template, and only transcribes specific sequences. In eukaryotes, how does the RNA polymerase “know” which strand to use as a template and precisely where to initiate transcription? Explain your answer, including any relevant DNA sequences/structures and proteins needed for the process
Transcription: DNA ---->
RNA
RNA polymerase is a DNA dependnet RNA polymerase.
i.e. it uses DNA as the template sequence to polymerize
complementary strand.
It can synthesize a new strand only in the 5'-3' direction i.e. it
reads the template strand in 3'-5' direction.
The major factor determining which
strand to be utilized as the template strand is the Promoter
element.
The promoter is a cis-acting DNA element located upstream to the
transcription start site. It serves as the binding site for RNA
polymerase.
It determines the directionality of transcription as well as which
strand to be used as the template strand.
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