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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 in Prokaryotes

Transcription in Prokaryotes

Transcription is a highly regulated process that converts genetic information into RNA molecules. The transcription cycle is divided into three key stages: initiation, elongation, and termination, each driven by specific molecular mechanisms.Initiation of TranscriptionIn bacteria, transcription begins when the RNA polymerase core enzyme associates with a sigma factor to form a holoenzyme. For example, the E. coli sigma factor called σ70 forms a holoenzyme, which recognizes the -10 (Pribnow box)...

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...

Termination of Translation

Termination of Translation

The large ribosomal subunit has several important structures essential to translation. These include the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) - which is the site where the peptide bond is formed - and a large, internal, water-filled tube through which the nascent polypeptide moves. This latter structure is called the Peptide Exit Tunnel, and it begins at the PTC and spans the body of the large ribosomal subunit. During translation, as the nascent polypeptide chain is synthesized, it passes through...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on (TRO) Approach

Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on (TRO) Approach

Published on: March 12, 2017

An allosteric path to transcription termination.

Vitaly Epshtein¹, Christopher J Cardinale, Andrei E Ruckenstein

¹Department of Biochemistry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.

|December 27, 2007

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Bacterial transcription termination involves RNA hairpin folding and enzyme conformational changes, not forward translocation. This study reveals flexible RNA polymerase (RNAP) elements driving termination via hairpin invasion and structural rearrangements.

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Biochemistry
Genetics

Background:

Bacterial transcription termination relies on specific RNA structures (hairpins and U-residues) at the 3' end.
The prevailing model suggests RNA polymerase (RNAP) translocates forward to release the transcript.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate an alternative mechanism for bacterial transcription termination.
To elucidate the role of RNAP conformational changes in transcript release.

Main Methods:

Genetic analysis of transcription termination.
Biochemical assays to study RNAP-RNA-DNA interactions.

Main Results:

Evidence supports a model where RNAP undergoes significant conformational changes for termination, without forward translocation.
Flexible RNAP exit channel elements (zipper, flap, zinc finger) facilitate hairpin nucleation.
Hairpin invasion into the RNAP main channel induces RNA:DNA hybrid melting and catalytic site alterations.
DNA-clamp opening is triggered by G(trigger)-loop interaction.

Conclusions:

Bacterial transcription termination involves dynamic RNAP structural changes rather than simple forward translocation.
The identified termination pathway principles may be conserved across prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems.