Many genes in both bacteria and eukaryotes contain numerous sequences that can cause pauses in or premature termination of transcription. Nevertheless, the transcription of these genes within a cell normally produces multiple RNA molecules thousands of nucleotides long without pausing or premature termination. However, when a single round of transcription of these genes takes place in a test tube, RNA synthesis is frequently interrupted by pauses and premature terminations, which reduce the rate at which transcription takes place and frequently shorten the lengths of the mRNA molecules produced. Most pauses and premature terminations occur when RNA polymerase temporarily backtracks (i.e., backs up) for one or two nucleotides along the DNA. Experimental findings have demonstrated that most pauses and premature terminations disappear if several RNA polymerases are simultaneously transcribing the DNA molecule. Propose an explanation for this observation of faster transcription and longer mRNAs when the template DNA is being transcribed by multiple RNA polymerases

Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (MindTap Course List)
5th Edition
ISBN:9781305117396
Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Publisher:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Chapter7: Gene Expression And Control
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Many genes in both bacteria and eukaryotes contain numerous sequences that can cause pauses in or premature termination of transcription. Nevertheless, the transcription of these genes within a cell normally produces multiple RNA molecules thousands of nucleotides long without pausing or premature termination. However, when a single round of transcription of these genes takes place in a test tube, RNA synthesis is frequently interrupted by pauses and premature terminations, which reduce the rate at which transcription takes place and frequently shorten the lengths of the mRNA molecules produced. Most pauses and premature terminations occur when RNA polymerase temporarily backtracks (i.e., backs up) for one or two nucleotides along the DNA. Experimental findings have demonstrated that most pauses and premature terminations disappear if several RNA polymerases are simultaneously transcribing the DNA molecule. Propose an explanation for this observation of faster transcription and longer mRNAs when the template DNA is being transcribed by multiple RNA polymerases

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