Cycling through transcription with the RNA polymerase F/E (RPB4/7) complex: structure, function and evolution of archaeal RNA polymerase.
RNA polymerases (RNAPs) from the three domains of life, Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya, are evolutionarily related and thus have common structural and functional features. Despite the radically different morphology of Archaea and Eukarya, their RNAP subunit composition and utilisation of basal transcription factors are almost identical. This review focuses on the multiple functions of the most prominent feature that differentiates these enzymes from the bacterial RNAP--a stalk-like protrusion, which consists of the heterodimeric F/E subcomplex. F/E is highly versatile, it facilitates DNA strand-separation during transcription initiation, increases processivity during the elongation phase of transcription and ensures efficient transcription termination.
Grohmann
Dina
D
RNAP Laboratory, Institute for Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, Division of Biosciences, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E6BT, UK.
Werner
Finn
F
D001105:Archaea / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D019642:RNA, Archaeal / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D021122:Protein Subunits; D019642:RNA, Archaeal; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases