Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry and Laboratory of Structural Biology, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2012 Feb;22(1):110-8. doi: 10.1016/j.sbi.2011.11.006. Epub 2011 Dec 10.
DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) is responsible for cellular gene transcription. Although crystallographic studies on prokaryotic and eukaryotic RNAPs have elucidated the basic RNAP architectures, the structural details of many essential events during transcription initiation, elongation, and termination are still largely unknown. Recent crystallographic studies on a bacterial RNAP and yeast RNAP II have revealed different RNAP structural states from that of the normal transcribing complex, as well as the basis of transcription factor functions, advancing our understanding of transcription. These studies have highlighted unexpected similarities in many fundamental aspects of transcription mechanisms between the bacterial and eukaryotic transcription machineries. Remarkable differences also exist between the bacterial and eukaryotic transcription systems, suggesting directions for future studies.
DNA 依赖性 RNA 聚合酶（RNAP）负责细胞基因转录。尽管对原核和真核 RNAP 的晶体学研究已经阐明了基本的 RNAP 结构，但转录起始、延伸和终止过程中许多基本事件的结构细节仍然很大程度上未知。最近对细菌 RNAP 和酵母 RNAP II 的晶体学研究揭示了与正常转录复合物不同的 RNAP 结构状态，以及转录因子功能的基础，从而增进了我们对转录的理解。这些研究突出了细菌和真核转录机制在许多基本方面的出人意料的相似性。细菌和真核转录系统之间也存在显著差异，这为未来的研究指明了方向。
