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Transcription in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.
Student’s Name
Institution
Course
Due Date
, 2
Transcription is an important biological process that involves encoding information from
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) to Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) which serves as a precursor for
protein synthesis. This process is an important step for gene expression in both prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells as it manufactures RNA that is translated into proteins. Proteins are essential in
organisms as they perform a wide range of functions such as regulatory functions, enzymatic and
structural functions (Alberts et al., 2002). On that account, not only is transcription necessary for
protein synthesis but also responsible for the regulation of cellular activities. There is a
significant difference between transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes which proves the
difference in their transcription complexity.
In transcription, unlike replication, only a specific portion of the DNA is transcribed into RNA
concerning what the cell needs at that time. The template strand, or antisense strand, is the one
that is transcribed while the sense strand, or the coding strand has the same amino acid sequence
as the final protein. Transcription can occur in both strands as long as it happens in opposite
directions, a feature called asymmetrical transcription and it is synthesized by DNA-dependent
RNA polymerase. Each transcribable region in prokaryotes is known as an operon, made up of
various structural genes and regulatory regions, with a promoter sequence that enables RNA
polymerase to attach and regulate transcription.
The transcription process in prokaryotes and eukaryotes is made up of three phases: initiation,
elongation, and termination. Prokaryotic transcription occurs in the cytoplasm, starting with the
initiation phase where RNA polymerase holoenzyme recognizes promoter sequences to activate
transcription. RNA polymerase is a multi-subunit enzyme consisting of five core subunits: two
alpha subunits, an omega subunit, one beta subunit, and one beta prime subunit, (Hsieh &
Borger, 2020). There is a sixth subunit, the sigma factor which interacts with the other core
enzyme, aiding the binding process of RNA polymerase. The beta subunit contributes to
Transcription in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.
Student’s Name
Institution
Course
Due Date
, 2
Transcription is an important biological process that involves encoding information from
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) to Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) which serves as a precursor for
protein synthesis. This process is an important step for gene expression in both prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells as it manufactures RNA that is translated into proteins. Proteins are essential in
organisms as they perform a wide range of functions such as regulatory functions, enzymatic and
structural functions (Alberts et al., 2002). On that account, not only is transcription necessary for
protein synthesis but also responsible for the regulation of cellular activities. There is a
significant difference between transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes which proves the
difference in their transcription complexity.
In transcription, unlike replication, only a specific portion of the DNA is transcribed into RNA
concerning what the cell needs at that time. The template strand, or antisense strand, is the one
that is transcribed while the sense strand, or the coding strand has the same amino acid sequence
as the final protein. Transcription can occur in both strands as long as it happens in opposite
directions, a feature called asymmetrical transcription and it is synthesized by DNA-dependent
RNA polymerase. Each transcribable region in prokaryotes is known as an operon, made up of
various structural genes and regulatory regions, with a promoter sequence that enables RNA
polymerase to attach and regulate transcription.
The transcription process in prokaryotes and eukaryotes is made up of three phases: initiation,
elongation, and termination. Prokaryotic transcription occurs in the cytoplasm, starting with the
initiation phase where RNA polymerase holoenzyme recognizes promoter sequences to activate
transcription. RNA polymerase is a multi-subunit enzyme consisting of five core subunits: two
alpha subunits, an omega subunit, one beta subunit, and one beta prime subunit, (Hsieh &
Borger, 2020). There is a sixth subunit, the sigma factor which interacts with the other core
enzyme, aiding the binding process of RNA polymerase. The beta subunit contributes to
