Tracking RNA polymerase, one step at a time.
Although the structural analysis of transcription has attained atomic resolution, techniques to manipulate single molecules involved in transcription have lagged behind. A recent paper in Nature by Abbondanzieri et al. (2005) closes this gap. This study finds that individual molecules of bacterial RNA polymerase move in single base-pair steps and concludes that RNA polymerase acts as a Brownian ratchet that is driven forward by the binding of incoming nucleoside triphosphates.
Vassylyev
Dmitry G
DG
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA.
Artsimovitch
Irina
I
D020029:Base Pairing; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D020134:Catalytic Domain / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D009711:Nucleotides; D004247:DNA; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases