Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial RNA Polymerase00:43

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
Bacterial RNA Polymerase00:43

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases00:58

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 Polymerases00:58

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...
Bacterial Transcription01:53

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 Initiation01:47

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Structural basis for loading of transcription repair-coupling factor Mfd onto stalled elongation complexes.

Nucleic acids research·2026
Same author

RNA polymerase inhibitors reveal active-site motions essential for the nucleotide addition cycle.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

ppGpp regulates transcription elongation via direct and indirect inputs to RNA polymerase pausing and nucleotide addition.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Identification and structural analysis of a novel FUT1 c.789C>A variant and previously reported para-Bombay alleles using an α2FucT1 structural model.

Transfusion·2026
Same author

The "next" standard for ABO genotyping.

Human immunology·2026
Same author

Transplant of serologic A1 but genotype A2 kidneys to ABO O and B recipients is feasible and safe.

Human immunology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides
13:19

Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides

Published on: June 2, 2022

Molecular evolution of multisubunit RNA polymerases: structural analysis.

William J Lane1, Seth A Darst

  • 1The Rockefeller University, Box 224, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.

Journal of Molecular Biology
|November 10, 2009
PubMed
Summary

This study analyzes conserved regions in multisubunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) large subunits across diverse life forms. It reveals fundamental RNAP features and conserved positions crucial for enzyme structure and function.

More Related Videos

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events
10:59

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events

Published on: May 13, 2019

Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation
12:26

Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation

Published on: February 12, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides
13:19

Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides

Published on: June 2, 2022

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events
10:59

Artificial RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complexes for Dissecting Co-transcriptional RNA Processing Events

Published on: May 13, 2019

Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation
12:26

Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation

Published on: February 12, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Multisubunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) is essential for transcription across all domains of life.
  • RNAP large subunits share homologous regions, suggesting a common evolutionary origin and fundamental structural/functional roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To perform a detailed structural analysis of conserved sequence regions within multisubunit RNAP large subunits.
  • To elucidate the relationship between conserved RNAP structure and function across different biological classes.

Main Methods:

  • Creation of comprehensive multiple sequence alignments of RNAP large subunits from bacteria, archaea, eukaryotes, viruses, and plant plastids.
  • Systematic structural analysis of shared sequence regions and highly conserved positions identified in the alignments.

Main Results:

  • Identification of sequence regions common to all analyzed multisubunit RNAP classes.
  • Delineation of fundamental RNAP features and highly conserved positions based on sequence alignments.
  • Structural interpretation of these conserved elements within the context of RNAP architecture.

Conclusions:

  • Conserved regions and positions in RNAP large subunits reflect fundamental structural and functional properties shared across diverse RNAP types.
  • Structural analysis of conserved elements provides insights into the evolutionary conservation and essential roles of specific RNAP features.