DNA transcription is the process by which a segment of DNA is copied into a complementary RNA molecule by the enzyme RNA polymerase. The process of transcription can be broken down into several steps:
1. Initiation: RNA polymerase binds to the promoter region of the DNA, which signals the start of transcription. The DNA double helix unwinds, and the enzyme begins to synthesize a complementary RNA strand using one of the DNA strands as a template.
2. Elongation: As RNA polymerase moves along the DNA template, it adds nucleotides to the growing RNA strand according to the base-pairing rules (A pairs with U, G pairs with C). The enzyme continues to unwind the DNA ahead of it and rewind it behind it as it synthesizes the RNA molecule.
3. Termination: Transcription continues until the RNA polymerase reaches a termination signal in the DNA sequence. This signal causes the enzyme to release the RNA molecule and detach from the DNA template.
4. Processing: The newly synthesized RNA molecule, called pre-mRNA, undergoes several processing steps before it can be used by the cell. These steps include the addition of a 5' cap and a poly-A tail, as well as the removal of introns through a process called splicing.
5. mRNA export: The mature mRNA molecule is then exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it can be translated into a protein by ribosomes.
Overall, DNA transcription is a crucial process that allows genetic information stored in the DNA to be converted into functional proteins that carry out various cellular functions.
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Google Gemini AI
Jul 25
DNA Transcription
DNA transcription is the process by which the genetic information stored in DNA is copied into RNA (ribonucleic acid). RNA is a single-stranded molecule that carries copies of the specific genes from DNA to the part of the cell where protein synthesis occurs.
Steps of DNA Transcription:
1. Initiation:
- RNA polymerase binds to a specific DNA sequence called the promoter, located upstream of the gene to be transcribed. - The enzyme unwinds the DNA helix, separating the two strands.
2. Elongation:
- RNA polymerase moves along the DNA template strand, using it as a guide. - RNA nucleotides (adenine, cytosine, guanine, uracil) pair with their complementary DNA nucleotides (T replaced by U in RNA). - A new RNA strand is synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction, complementary to the DNA template strand.
3. Termination:
- When RNA polymerase reaches a specific termination sequence in the DNA, it releases the RNA transcript. - The DNA strands re-anneal, and the RNA polymerase dissociates from the DNA.
Types of RNA Produced:
- Messenger RNA (mRNA): Carries the genetic code from the nucleus to the ribosomes, where protein synthesis occurs. - Transfer RNA (tRNA): Transports amino acids to the ribosomes to form polypeptide chains. - Ribosomal RNA (rRNA): Forms the core of ribosomes, which are the sites of protein synthesis.
Key Features of Transcription:
- Transcription is semi-conservative: Only one DNA strand is used as the template, and the resulting RNA molecule is complementary to that strand. - Transcription can occur multiple times from the same DNA template. - Different RNA polymerases are responsible for transcribing different types of RNA. - The rate of transcription is regulated by various factors, including the availability of RNA polymerase and the presence of regulatory elements in the DNA.