What You Need to Know About RNA Polymerase

1) The main function of RNA polymerase is to catalyze the synthesis of RNA molecules using a DNA template during the process of transcription.

2) The subunits of RNA polymerase can vary depending on the organism, but the primary subunits of bacterial RNA polymerase are α, β, β', and ω.

Function of RNA Polymerase

RNA polymerase plays a crucial role in gene expression by transcribing the genetic information stored in DNA into RNA molecules. This process is essential for protein synthesis and other cellular functions.

Subunits of RNA Polymerase

RNA polymerase is a multi-subunit enzyme complex. In bacteria, the core enzyme consists of several subunits, including two α subunits, one β subunit, one β' subunit, and one ω subunit. These subunits work together to catalyze RNA synthesis.

Additionally, bacteria possess a sigma factor subunit that associates with the core enzyme to form the holoenzyme. The holoenzyme is responsible for recognizing and binding specific DNA sequences known as promoters, which initiate the transcription process.