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The role of RNA polymerase in transcriptional fidelity
Author(s) -
Libby R. T.,
Gallant J. A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1991.tb01872.x
Subject(s) - processivity , biology , transcription (linguistics) , rna , rna polymerase ii , proofreading , polymerase , dna , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , promoter , gene , gene expression , linguistics , philosophy
Summary The overall transcription of DNA has previously been demonstrated to proceed at extremely high levels of accuracy. We review the evidence that the process of transcription is subject to proof‐reading in the Hopfield sense. In addition, we speculate that the proof‐reading activity associated with transcription is subject to cyclical phase transitions. That is, during periods of low processivity associated with initiation, RNA synthesis is relatively imprecise. The transition to the elongation phase of RNA synthesis, characterized by a shift to high processivity, is accompanied by enhanced proof‐reading. A model for the damping of transcriptional errors, based on a PPi‐mediated processive pyrophosphorolysis reaction, is discussed in terms of pausing during transcription.