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Transcription

Transcription

Overview
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...

Transcription Elongation Factors

Transcription Elongation Factors

Transcription elongation is a dynamic process that alters depending upon the sequence heterogeneity of the DNA being transcribed. Hence, it is not surprising that the elongation complex's composition also varies along the way while transcribing a gene.
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA into a...

Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes

Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes

Transcriptional attenuation occurs when RNA transcription is prematurely terminated due to the formation of a terminator mRNA hairpin structure. Bacteria use these hairpins to regulate the transcription process and control the synthesis of several amino acids including histidine, lysine, threonine, and phenylalanine. Transcription attenuation takes place in the non-coding regions of mRNA.
There are several different mechanisms used to attenuate transcription. In ribosome mediated...

Bacterial Transcription

Bacterial Transcription

RNA polymerase (RNAP) carries out DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in both bacteria and eukaryotes. Bacteria do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. So, transcription and translation occur simultaneously, on the same DNA template.
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:

Transcription Initiation

Transcription Initiation

Initiation is the first step of transcription in eukaryotes. Prokaryotic RNA Polymerase (RNAP) can bind to the template DNA and start transcribing. On the other hand, transcription in eukaryotes requires additional proteins, called transcription factors, to first bind to the promoter region in the DNA template. This binding helps recruit the specific RNAP that can assemble on the DNA and start transcription.
The promoters and enhancers and their accessory proteins allow tight regulation of...

Transcription Elongation Factors

Transcription Elongation Factors

Transcription elongation is a dynamic process that alters depending upon the sequence heterogeneity of the DNA being transcribed. Hence, it is not surprising that the elongation complex's composition also varies along the way while transcribing a gene.
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA into a...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Measuring the Kinetics of mRNA Transcription in Single Living Cells

Measuring the Kinetics of mRNA Transcription in Single Living Cells

Published on: August 25, 2011

Transcriptional pausing caught in the act.

Peter H von Hippel¹

¹Institute of Molecular Biology and Department of Chemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.

|June 17, 2006

Summary

Single-molecule tracking reveals how RNA polymerase pauses during transcription. This research elucidates sequence-dependent pausing, a key mechanism in gene regulation.

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Biochemistry

Background:

Single-molecule techniques enable real-time tracking of molecular processes.
Understanding transcription regulation is crucial for cell function.

Discussion:

Herbert et al. (2006) utilized single-molecule methods to observe RNA polymerase.
The study focused on sequence-dependent pausing during RNA synthesis.

Key Insights:

Real-time, base-pair resolution tracking of transcription complexes is now possible.
RNA polymerase exhibits sequence-dependent pausing during transcript elongation.

Outlook:

Further investigation into transcription pausing mechanisms.
Potential applications in understanding gene expression disorders.

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