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...
Types of RNA01:23

Types of RNA

Overview
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...
Types of RNA01:20

Types of RNA

Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in regulating gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA Performs Diverse...
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis01:25

Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis

Aminoglycosides constitute a highly potent class of bactericidal antibiotics that exert their antimicrobial effects by targeting the bacterial ribosome, specifically disrupting protein synthesis. These polycationic molecules consist of amino-modified sugars linked via glycosidic bonds to an aminocyclitol core such as 2-deoxystreptamine or streptamine. Their strong positive charges facilitate tight binding to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), primarily at the 16S...
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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Substrate and target selectivity of 4'-fluoroadenosine against viral and host polymerases.

The Journal of biological chemistry·2026
Same author

Structural basis of long-range transcription-translation coupling.

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

Substrate and target selectivity of 4'-fluoroadenosine against viral and host polymerases.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

The Q226H Mutation in Avian H5N1 Hemagglutinin Mediates a Path towards Structural Adaptation in Humans.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Solid-phase synthesis and biological evaluation of des-hydroxy pseudouridimycin analogs.

ACS medicinal chemistry letters·2026
Same author

Preferential remdesivir triphosphate incorporation by SARS-CoV-2 polymerase is altered to ATP by the S759A mutation.

Communications biology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

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

Structures of RNA polymerase-antibiotic complexes.

Mary X Ho1, Brian P Hudson, Kalyan Das

  • 1Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|November 21, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) inhibitors offer new antibacterial treatments. Structural studies reveal three distinct inhibition mechanisms, aiding the development of novel antibiotics against tuberculosis and other bacterial infections.

More Related Videos

In Vitro Transcription Assays and Their Application in Drug Discovery
09:28

In Vitro Transcription Assays and Their Application in Drug Discovery

Published on: September 20, 2016

High-throughput Purification of Affinity-tagged Recombinant Proteins
07:44

High-throughput Purification of Affinity-tagged Recombinant Proteins

Published on: August 26, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

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

In Vitro Transcription Assays and Their Application in Drug Discovery
09:28

In Vitro Transcription Assays and Their Application in Drug Discovery

Published on: September 20, 2016

High-throughput Purification of Affinity-tagged Recombinant Proteins
07:44

High-throughput Purification of Affinity-tagged Recombinant Proteins

Published on: August 26, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Structural Biology
  • Medicinal Chemistry

Background:

  • Bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) inhibition is a key strategy for developing new antibacterial agents.
  • Existing antibiotic classes like rifamycins, sorangicin, streptolydigin, and myxopyronin target RNAP.
  • Crystal structures of RNAP-inhibitor complexes provide insights into inhibition mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the distinct structural targets and mechanisms of action for different classes of bacterial RNAP inhibitors.
  • To leverage structural information for the development of novel antibacterial therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of published crystal structures of bacterial RNAP-inhibitor complexes.
  • Comparison of binding sites and proposed mechanisms of action for four classes of antibiotics.
  • Utilizing structural data for homology modeling and in silico screening.

Main Results:

  • Identified three distinct inhibition targets and mechanisms for bacterial RNAP inhibitors.
  • Rifamycins and sorangicin block RNA extension near the active center.
  • Streptolydigin inhibits RNAP conformational cycling, while myxopyronin interferes with DNA binding/unwinding.

Conclusions:

  • Structural insights into RNAP inhibition mechanisms are crucial for antibacterial drug discovery.
  • The identified targets and mechanisms facilitate the rational design of improved antibacterial agents.
  • Structural data enables in silico screening for new drug candidates against bacterial RNAP.