Describe the initiation process of transcription in bacteria
Initiation of transcription in bacteria: The process of copying genetic information from antisense or template strands of DNA into RNA is called transcription. The segment of DNA that takes part in transcription is called the transcription unit. It has three components (a) a promoter, (b) the structural gene and (c) a terminator. The structural gene is composed of that strand of DNA that has 3′ → 5′ polarity as transcription can occur only in the 5′ → 3′ direction. Transcription requires a DNA-dependent-RNA polymerase and initiation factor. Bacteria have only one type of RNA polymerase which transcribes all three types of RNAs. Ribonucleotides of ribose series are activated through phosphorylation (ATP, GTP, CTP, UTP). Transcription begins at the initiation site. A promotor has an RNA polymerase recognition site and it binds to the specific site. Enzymes required for the unwinding of the chain are unwound and single-stranded binding proteins. Nucleotides are added as per the base-pairing rule.
