title: From initiation to elongation: comparison of transcription by prokaryotic and eukaryotic RNA polymerases.
abstract: Multisubunit RNA polymerases in prokaryotes and eukaryotes share an evolutionarily conserved core. Here, we compare the processes of promoter recognition, transcription initiation and transcript elongation by human RNA polymerase II and by the RNA polymerase of the eubacterium Escherichia coli. Although these two polymerases have diverged widely in structure, important functions have been conserved, suggesting that the basic mechanisms of RNA transcription are similar in eukaryotes and prokaryotes.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Molekular-Biologie und Tumorgenetik, Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit, GSF, München, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eick
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wedel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heumann
mesh_terms: D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012319:RNA Polymerase II; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases