The DNA replication fork can pass RNA polymerase without displacing the nascent transcript.
Replication proteins encoded by bacteriophage T4 generate DNA replication forks that can pass a molecule of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase moving in the same direction as the fork in vitro. The RNA polymerase ternary transcription complex remains bound to the DNA and retains a transcription bubble after the fork passes. The by-passed ternary complex can resume faithful RNA synthesis, suggesting that the multisubunit RNA polymerase of E. coli has evolved to retain its transcript after DNA replication, allowing partially completed transcripts to be elongated into full-length RNA molecules.
Liu
B
B
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0448.
Wong
M L
ML
Tinker
R L
RL
Geiduschek
E P
EP
Alberts
B M
BM
D017122:Bacteriophage T4 / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000502:physiology*; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000235:genetics; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology
D004270:DNA, Circular; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases