Backtracking and proofreading in DNA transcription.
Biological cell function crucially relies on the accuracy of RNA sequences, transcribed from the DNA genetic code. To ensure sufficiently high fidelity in the face of high spontaneous error rates during transcription, error correction mechanisms must play an important role. A particular mechanism of transcriptional error correction involves backtracking of the RNA polymerase and RNA cleavage. Motivated by recent single molecule experiments characterizing the dynamics of backtracking, we present a microscopic model of this editing process. We show that such a mechanism can yield error frequencies that are in agreement with in vivo observations.
Voliotis
Margaritis
M
School of Computing, Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
Cohen
Netta
N
Molina-París
Carmen
C
Liverpool
Tanniemola B
TB
D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases