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Updated: Jul 26, 2026

In Vitro Transcription Assays and Their Application in Drug Discovery
Published on: September 20, 2016
Structure of transcription elongation complexes in vivo
1Section of Biochemistry, Molecular, and Cell Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
Abstract:
The opening of duplex DNA in the elongation phase of transcription by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase in vivo was detected at a regulatory site where a prolonged pause in transcription occurs. Single-stranded DNA in the transcription bubble was identified by its reactivity with potassium permanganate (KMnO4). The elongation structure in vivo was similar to that of transcription complexes made in vitro with some differences. The observed reactivity to KMnO4 of the DNA template strand was consistent with the existence of an RNA-DNA hybrid of about 12 nucleotides.
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